Le Mans: Ford prepared for multi-manufacturer battle at Le Mans

The battle lines have been drawn and the scene is set for an historic GTE showdown at Le Mans on June 15-16. Fifty years on from the last of Ford’s four-year winning streak at Le Mans, it is no longer just Ford vs Ferrari. It’s Ford vs. Ferrari, BMW, Aston Martin, Corvette and Porsche. A titanic six-way battle is on the cards and the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team is ready to “Go Like Hell” one more time.

© Ford

Ford’s four-year commitment to race the spectacular Ford GTs at the Le Mans 24 Hours has provided the Blue Oval with memories to last a lifetime, with many highs and lows along the way. Crucially it has been a place for innovation and learning; in the machines and the people who build, run and drive them. 

 

“This last Le Mans for the Ford team will certainly be an emotional one,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsport. “With this programme, we gave ourselves the objective to return to Le Mans 50 years after our first win in 1966 to get on the top step and we achieved that in year one. However, that has not diminished our desire to continue to deliver success and the fact that we have been on the podium every year we have competed at Le Mans shows how consistent the team has been. For our last Le Mans, we have five GTs on the grid, including the Keating Motorsports car so I can only hope that we go out on a high. Whatever happens, it has been the ride of a lifetime and we are very grateful to the ACO and WEC for all of their support.” 

 

Ford is the only one of the current GTE Pro manufacturers to have finished on the podium at the last three Le Mans. Wearing brand new liveries to celebrate past successes, all four factory Ford GTs are being raced by drivers who have their sights firmly set on the top step of the podium.  

The #66 Ford GT will be raced by Stefan Mücke (GER), Olivier Pla (FRA) and Billy Johnson (USA). As a Frenchman, a win at Le Mans would mean more than anything to Pla.

 

“We say it every year but we mean it every year, we want to win Le Mans!” Pla said. “This is our last chance to do it in a factory Ford GT so the pressure is higher than ever but we are feeling good, we are feeling strong, and we are ready to get out there and race for the win.”

The regular #67 crew of Andy Priaulx (GB) and Harry Tincknell (GB) are joined by Jonathan Bomarito (USA) for Le Mans and they will be a trio to look out for if their recent pace is anything to go by.

 

“I think the performance we’ve shown in the WEC and IMSA races in the last year puts us right in the frame,” Tincknell said. “Jonathan (Bomarito) did a great job at Sebring so I think we’ll be a strong crew. We’ve got close before so there’s no reason to think we can’t win it. All any driver can ask for is a competitive car and we have that so it’s up to us to execute it. We’re due some good luck so why not? Let’s go for it!”

© Ford

Joey Hand (US) makes his return to the #68 Ford GT at Le Mans, now fully recovered from a recent virus. Along with Dirk Müller (GER) and Sébastien Bourdais (FRA) he won Le Mans in 2016 so he would be delighted to do the double in 2019.

 

"I'm about as excited to get back to Le Mans as I have ever been,” Hand said. “Missing the last two races because of illness has been hard, but getting ready for Le Mans has driven my recovery.  I had a great two-day test on the Ford simulator and I’ve been working out hard to be physically ready for this tough race.  It will be great to be back with the boys but, more importantly, it will be great to be back in the Ford GT and trying to win this great race.  There is really no other race in the world like it, and I was honoured to be up on that top step with Dirk and Sebastien in 2016.  We want to do it one more time for Ford, Ganassi, and all the people who have worked so hard on this programme over the years."

The #69 Ford GT crew of Ryan Briscoe (AUS), Richard Westbrook (UK) and Scott Dixon (NZ) have finished on the podium twice so far for Ford. They would like to complete the set this year after scoring a second and third place at Le Mans.

 

"I am very excited to go back to Le Mans this year, especially with the new paint schemes that honour some of the most successful Ford GT cars in Le Mans history,” Briscoe said. “Dixie, Westy and I have been up on that Le Mans podium but not on the top step so we'd really love to be up there this year to help thank everyone from Ford and Ganassi who had been part of this great programme. We have the right car in the Ford GT, along with the right team of people behind us to make a run for it. I can't wait to get started."

In the GTE Am class, the #85 Wynn’s-sponsored Keating Motorsports Ford GT is up against the might of Ferrari, Aston Martin and Porsche.  Ben Keating (USA), Jeroen Bleekemolen (NETH) and Felipe Fraga (BRA) are up for the task and raring to go.

 

“I have so much personal history with Ford and Le Mans so I have never looked forward to a race as much as this one,” Keating said. ‘Ford has such a deep history with Le Mans and it is the 80th Anniversary for Wynn’s and I’ve had a partnership with them in my dealerships for years.  I get the opportunity to combine all of this into the most anticipated Le Mans I’ve ever experienced.  It is such an honour to be the first privateer to race the Ford GT. There are so many special “once in a lifetime” pieces to this puzzle that it is hard to believe it has come together like it has. It is special in every way as I represent almost every part of my life in this race.”

Source: Ford press release

Pictures : Ford & Kristof Vermeulen

Le Mans 2017: Tony Kanaan to replace Sebastien Bourdais in the #68 Ford GT

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Driver Tony Kanaan will replace Sebastien Bourdais in the #68 Ford GT, joining Joey Hand and Dirk Müller at Le Mans 24 Hours. 

© Ford

Indycar champion and Rolex 24 At Daytona winner Tony Kanaan will join Joey Hand and Dirk Müller in Ford Chip Ganassi Racing’s #68 Ford GT at the Le Mans 24 Hours next month as the team looks to defend its 2016 GTE Pro Class victory. The Brazilian fills the seat left vacant by Sébastien Bourdais, who was injured during qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. 

“We’re very pleased we are able to get a driver of Tony’s experience and talent in the No. 68 Ford GT for the Le Mans 24,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “It’s certainly not the ideal situation and we’re heartbroken that Sébastien won’t be back to defend his race victory, since we know how much that race means to him personally. He is an important part of our family, and we look forward to him making a complete recovery.”

This will be Kanaan's first 24 hours of Le Mans. The Brazilian driver who signed up with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2014, has spent significant time in the Ford GT this year. He drive the #69 Ford GT at the Rolex 24, where he joined fulltime drivers Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell to finish fifth in GTLM. Kanaan spent just over seven hours, 30 minutes in the No. 69 Ford GT during the race alone and was the third-quickest driver in the category, behind Ganassi teammates Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe.

“It’s an honor to be named a part of the Ford GT lineup for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing at the Le Mans 24,” Kanaan said. “It’s obviously an unfortunate situation that brought us to this point with Sébastien’s injuries, but I’m going to do my best to take his place and try to help win this amazing race for the team again this year. This race has definitely been on my bucket list for a long time, so I’m thankful that Chip and our partners at Ford have given me this opportunity.”

Kristof Vermeulen.

FIA WEC 2017: GTE Pro driver line-ups confirmed for Le Mans

At the first day of the FIA WEC prologue in Monza, Porsche announced its GT driver pairings for the Le Mans 24 Hours in June. With this announcement, all driver pairings for the GTE Pro class in Le Mans are now confirmed, except for Corvette.

Patrick Pilet will join Richard Lietz and Frédéric Makowiecki in the #91 Porsche 911 RSR. The third driver for the #92 car will be Dirk Werner, who will be joining Michael Christensen and Kévin Estre. 

“Choosing the drivers for the most important race of the year was actually easy,” said Head of Porsche Motorsport Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser. “Our driver squad is so strong we basically couldn’t make a mistake. Patrick Pilet and Dirk Werner are the perfect complement to our regular team members. It is definitely an advantage that they all know each other very well from the races in the USA. We’re in an excellent position for Le Mans with these drivers.”

Earlier this week, on Thursday, Aston Martin Racing also confirmed its driver line-ups for the round the clock race at Le Mans. 

Brazilian driver Daniel Serra will join Aston Martin Racing for Le Mans this year, making his debut in the FIA WEC. Serra has already completed countless laps in the team’s V8 Vantage GTE throughout an intensive testing and development programme with tyre supplier Dunlop. He will race alongside Darren Turner and Jonny Adam in the #97 Vantage V8. Joining the "Dane Train" Nicki Thiim and Marco Sorensen in the #95 is New Zealander Richie Stanaway who returns to the FIA WEC.  In preparation for Le Mans, Serra and Stanaway will join the team in the 6 hours of Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. 

Aston Martin Racing Team Principal Paul Howarth is very excited to have both drivers on board this season. Both of them bring with them the speed and consistency that we look for in any driver here at Aston Martin Racing. While Richie has of course raced with us for many seasons, Daniel is also well known within our operation. We are a team with big ambitions following our championship successes last year and while the competition will undoubtedly be tough, it is our objective to be on the top step of the podium at Le Mans in June”.

AF Corse has secured Lucas di Grassi as their third driver in the #51 Ferrari 488 GTE. The Brazilian driver was confirmed yesterday ahead of the FIA WEC prologue. Di Grassi is still active as an Audi factory driver in the Formula E championship, but has always expressed his desire to return to Le Mans after the withdrawal of Audi out of the FIA WEC. He will join Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado in the #51 Ferrari. 

Spanish driver Miguel Molina  has been appointed as the third driver for the #71 Ferrari 488 GTE at Le Mans. He will join Davide Rigon and Sam Bird. Molina has been active in the DTM in the past 7 years and now races with the Spirit of Race team in the GTE Am class, as in the Blancpain Endurance Series with SMP Racing. Molina and Di Grassi both tested the Ferrari at Vallelunga last month together with Alessandro Pier Guidi and Nyck De Vries to replace Gianmaria Bruni who left Ferrari for Porsche. Pier Guidi got the seat as a factory driver back then.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing already confirmed its driver line-ups in February. There's one new name into the team, Brazilian Luis Felipe "Pipo" Derani who will join Andy Priaulx and Harry Tincknell in the #67 Ford GT. Derani impressed last year with Extreme Speeds Motorsports in the LMP2 class, winning Daytona and Sebring back to back and with some impressive driving in the FIA WEC. 

Last years GTE-Pro winners at Le Mans, Joey Hand, Dirk Müller and Sébastien Bourdais will defend their title in the #68. The driver trio already won the 24 hours of Daytona this year, and could be the team to beat again at La Sarthe. In the #66 Ford GT, Stefan Mücke and Olivier Pla will be joined again by American Billy Johnson for the races at Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans. Third place finishers at last years Le Mans, Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon will also return with and unchanged line-up in the #69 Ford. 

Kristof Vermeulen. 

FIA WEC 2017: Kubica, Derani and new numbers for Toyota

ByKolles signs Robert Kubica and Oliver Webb for the 2017 World Endurance Championship. 

ByKOLLES Racing will start the 2017 World Endurance Championship season with ex-Formula One driver Robert Kubica driving the CLM P1/01 Nismo together with Brit Oliver Webb. The third driver for the FIA WEC races, including the Le Mans 24 Hours 2017, will be announced at a later stage. Oliver Webb is known to the private LMP1 team ByKOLLES Racing from his commitments during last season. After many good results in Formula One and several years in Rally, Robert Kubica will return to circuit racing and make his debut in Le Mans in June.

„After my time in Rally I’ve been looking for something as close to F1 as possible. This is exactly what I’ve found in LMP1“, says Robert Kubica. „At the end of last year’s WEC-Season, I was able to do my first laps behind the wheel of the CLM P1/01. I felt comfortable in the car very quickly and was able to increase my pace accordingly. With even more experience I’m sure I will be able to extract more performance. I’m already very much looking forward to the Prologue in Monza and the season start in Silverstone. The professional team of ByKOLLES Racing will continue to make important improvements to the car during the season. I’m happy to be a part of it. The FIA WEC is racing on circuits that I know well from my time in F1, with the exception of Le Mans. I’ve heard so many good things about the event at the Sarthe. I’m very excited about my first start at this 24-Hour race.”

"I’m very happy that I will be once again competing in the FIA WEC in LMP1, together with the ByKOLLES crew and F1 legend Robert Kubica“, explains Oliver Webb. „It’s great that we have the Nismo engine in our car from now on. For 2018 it looks like it will be a good and intense competition in the LMP1 category. This year, the field of LMP1 privateers will be very modest but we will use the season to optimise our car to the new engine and improve numerous other things. To be competing at Le Mans once again, with Robert along-side us is going to be fantastic – it’s a dream come true!“

New season, new numbers for Toyota Gazoo Racing. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing’s TS050 Hybrids will wear some familiar numbers in the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship. Mike Conway, Kamui Kobayashi and José María López will race the #7 TS050 Hybrid. That number, which recalls memories of legendary Toyota 7 sportscar, was on the TS030 Hybrid when it won the team’s first WEC race in 2012.

Sébastien Buemi, Anthony Davidson and Kazuki Nakajima will compete with the #8 car. Sébastien and Anthony have a strong association with that number, having won the 2014 drivers’ World Championship at the wheel of the #8 TS040 Hybrid. The numbers seven and eight are traditionally associated with Toyota at Le Mans. Toyota cars have featured those numbers, often as #37 and #38, in 13 of the manufacturers’ 18 years of Le Mans competition.

At Spa-Francorchamps and Le Mans, a third car, led by Stéphane Sarrazin, will wear #9. A number Toyota has never races at Le Mans, although in 1998 Thierry Boutsen, Ralf Kelleners & Geoff Lees drove the #29 TS020.

Pipo Derani joins Ford GT programme

After last years win in the LMGTE-Pro class, Ford returns with 4 GT's to Le Mans in June.  The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team’s 2016 victory came 50 years after an historic 1-2-3 finish for Ford at the 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours. Ford also won the race in 1967 when Dan Gurney (US) and A. J. Foyt (US) piloted the Ford GT40 to victory, giving the team another target to hit this time around.

The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team will again field a strong team of drivers to defend its 2016 LM GTE Pro class win.  New to the team for 2017 is young Brazilian, Luis Felipe "Pipo" Derani, who will join Andy Priaulx (GB) and Harry Tincknell (GB) in the #67 Ford GT for the FIA World Endurance Championship races at Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans. The 23 year-old came to Ford’s attention in 2016 when he won the Rolex 24 At Daytona and the Sebring 12 Hours on his debut, marking himself as one to watch.

“I am delighted and proud to have been chosen to represent such a successful and respected manufacturer like Ford. To compete for a team like Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has been one of my aims since starting in racing and to be recognised and selected by them is a big deal for me. I especially want to thank George-Howard Chappell for his trust and belief in order to give me this opportunity", said Derani. “The way that the Ford GT has performed in endurance racing over the last 12 months has been exceptional and I am very much looking forward to working with the team to try and bring more success in the FIA World Endurance Championship and to defend the Le Mans LM GTE Pro title.”

The other driver line-ups will remain unchanged. Olivier Pla and Stefan Mücke will race the #66 and joined by Billy Johnson in Silverstone, Spa and Le Mans. The #68 Le Mans winning car will be driven again by Seb Bourdais, Joey Hand and Dirk Muller. Richard Westbrook, Scott Dixon and Ryan Briscoe will be at the wheel of the #69.

Kristof Vermeulen.