Ford Le Mans announcement good news for IMSA, WEC as well

Total-time dedication matches the 24 Hrs.
Ford supported the rumors today in a news conference almost just 24 hrs before the 24 Hrs of Lemans takes the green flag: Next yr, on the 50th anniversary of the business name's one two-three end in the 1966 24 Hours of Lemans, Ford will reunite using a four-vehicle, factory backed attempt featuring the new GT, racing in the LM GTE Pro class, with groups fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
But that information was only the tip of the iceberg. Ford will race two gt-s in a complete-season effort in the TUDOR United sports-car Championship. The very first world-wide look in the new GT race-car can come in the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona on Jan. 30-31, 2016.
The Daytona introduction of the Ford GT additionally is going to function as the introduction of the end of the DAYTONA Climbing job, the $400-million complete makeover of Daytona International Speedway.
Ed Bennett, CEO of the International Motorsports Association, which sanctions the TUDOR Championship, was current at Ford's statement at Lemans, and stated that it is a feather in the cap of the collection that Ford and Ganassi made a decision to create the GT's power-train within their Rolex 24- and Sebring-winning Daytona Prototype.
Supreme validation
"It is the supreme validation of what a sportscar racing software can perform," Bennett stated, seeing the "technology transfer" which used employed racing to not only create the contest sort of the EcoBoost 3.5-litre, twin-turbo-charged V-6 motor, but to enhance the highway-going versions of Ford's Eco Boost engine line.
"We consider the Ford GT's improvements in aero dynamics, light-weighting and Eco Boost energy will result in a powerful race car that could once more compete on an international phase," said Raj Nair, Ford group vice-president and chief technical officer.
"We understand from our rich history in motor sports that world class contest is an excellent incubator for even additional product innovation," stated Mark Fields, Ford president and Chief Executive Officer.
Information of legends
The tale of Ford's endeavor into sportscar racing 50 years past is the stuff of legends - how Henry Ford II wished to upstage Ferrari on its period, and accepted the advancement of the GT-40, delivering 8 of them to Lemans in 1966 below the guidance of iconic vehicle builder Carroll Shelby. The victor was the No. 2 Ford of Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon, accompanied by by the No. 1 of Ken Miles and Denny Hulme, equally on the lead lap. Third was the No. 5 GT-40 of Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson, 1 2 laps again. The greatest-finishing Ferrari was eighth.
It was at that race a then nine-yearold William Clay Ford III, now executive chairman of his family company, had the truth: "I understood at that instant I'd spend the remainder of my entire life at Ford Motor Organization," he stated at today's news conference.
Bennett said that while the Ford-Ferrari conflict will again be fought on the monitor, "Now we've got a chance to re-kindle that perhaps not only with Ferrari but with Corvette, BMW, Porsche and the others - it is an excellent move about them at a period when interest in sportscar racing all over the world is really powerful."
Ford had no word yet on who the motorists will be for the TUDOR Championship 2016 period - nor for the FIA World Endurance Championship, which Ford vowed to compete in additionally next year. But today's statement was another huge step in a task which has found significant fanfare in the start.
"It reveals an obvious commitment from Ford for sportscar racing, and it is clearly a wonderful, major development for the TUDOR Championship," Bennett stated. "We could not be more happy that the first spot this automobile will race is as the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona, which will also be the first opportunity to show off the new Daytona Climbing upgrades to the facility.
"A brand new facility as well as a brand new Ford GT racing software - for all that to occur together in a 24 hour atmosphere - will be really exciting, and really unique."

Read Source

13.06.2015
ID:2297

More news from this source:

1. Manor unleashes its 2016 challenger
2. Force India unveils new F1 car
3. McLaren-Honda reveals its brand-new F1 car for 2016
4. Tech analysis The 12 key changes on the McLaren MP4-31
5. Tech analysis The 15 key changes on the Mercedes W07