Today

Ford's new Hypercar takes to the track

Latest V8 contender gets first run out ahead of 2027 WEC campaign

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It wouldn’t be possible to cover every new machine that made it into the world of top tier sportscar racing; such is the popularity of the latest Hypercar regulations that everyone from Genesis to Peugeot is competing. But when it’s Ford, such a famous name when it comes to Le Mans, things are a bit different; there’s the GT40, of course, but don’t forget that the last GT won in its debut year. With maybe an underhand tactic or two, sure, but the point was Ford really, really cares when it comes to this sort of thing. 

This is the car it will compete in the 2027 World Endurance Championship with, an as-yet-unnamed machine that will be driven by Matt Campbell, Logan Sargeant, Tom Blomqvist and Mike Rockenfeller in two works entries. Notable for now is the inclusion of a 5.4-litre V8, derived from the Mustang’s Coyote unit and promising a thunderous soundtrack to rival the Cadillac’s. The test took place at Paul Ricard, which isn’t far from Oreca, chassis provider for the Ford Hypercar project. Most of the current Hypercar class are these LMDh spec racers, using chassis built by Oreca, Multimatic and Dallara: see BMW (Dallara), Genesis (Oreca), McLaren (Dallara) and Alpine (Oreca). The Ferrari 499P, Aston Martin Valkyrie, Peugeot 9X8 and Toyota TR010 use in house design, so they’re classed as LMH. 

As for the design, no concessions to nostalgia can be afforded this time around. Indeed if it wasn’t for the Ford Racing wrap, there’d be nothing to mark this out as a Blue Oval racer. Every centimetre exists to make best use possible of the passing air, from wheelarches that are more vent than bodywork to a front end that blends splitter and flics into one giant aerodynamic device. The fin running through the spine of the Ford looks a significant enough structure to require planning permission. All to be expected at this level of motorsport, of course. 

A Ford Racing statement said: “Testing of the Hypercar began on Wednesday 5 August, starting with several days of running-in tests, which went smoothly and according to plan. The team methodically followed a comprehensive programme to activate and verify every control system; these are now all fully operational and ready for the first track tests scheduled for this week and next.” All systems go, basically, as everything possible is done to get Ford up to speed for 2027. Expect the camo to come off, a name to be announced and more details confirmed over the next few months. In case you hadn’t noticed, this is a pretty big deal for Ford. History couldn’t repeat itself - could it?  

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• Ford confirms shock new LMDh Hypercar for 2027
  
• McLaren unveils new MCL-HY racer for 2027

[Turbobanana]

While I appreciate the tech and development that goes into these incredible machines, they're no lookers are they?

A question of form over function, for sure. Maybe I just need to re-calibrate my brain as I recall the Group C cars, some of which were simply stunning.

Good to have a decent level of manufacturer involvement these days.

[DeejRC]

Dunno why, but I’m getting serious old Pug 905 vibes from that.

[86wasagoodyear]

It does seem that the limits of aero performance have been reached for these prototypes.. take the liveries off and try telling the difference between any of them.
Brilliant that Ford are coming back in the top class. The more the merrier.
It's tough to win in WEC .. and great racing. Toyota won at Le Mans in June more by being cleverer than the rest than by being able to lap faster (the top 4 cars were separated by only 40s .. over 24 hours ... )

[JoshSm]

That's very interesting.

Shame the company itself is mostly descending into irrelevance.

[Pixelpeep Electric]

JoshSm said:

That's very interesting.

Shame the company itself is mostly descending into irrelevance.

They are deffo following Nokia's footsteps with their fall from dominance

[Virtual PAH]

Looks like the limit of design is what the current computer limit is, so they all use similar software capable of the same performance and result, so more like a one make series despite the independent work that goes on.

Perhaps differing 'AI' will come up with something genuinely next level, otherwise may as well ban computers in the process so they're uniquely custom hand built like 'the good old days'.

As it is they may as well just put 'design me a hypercar' into ChatGPT and put their feet up, especially now so much of the physical stuff can be 3d printed and eventually all of it will be.

[Bluehorseshoe]

I wonder if these cars are more a Test bed for component design rather than brand awareness. In the 90s the GT1 class had cars in theory you could buy now these cars are juat brilliant race cars but have no real link to products they sell

[LotusOmega375D]

No doubt Ford will spin any success as a David vs Goliath effort, with no recognition of the French designed and built car doing all the work, whilst attached to their engine.

[MountainsofSussex]

I honestly don't get this generation of endurance racing. Lmdh is basically spec chassis, electronics and hybrid, with tightly prescribed body shapes, while lmh gives a bit more freedom. But the whole thing is BoP'd up to the eyeballs anyway, which everyone is gagged from complaining about. The cars bear no resemblance or relevance to anything made by any of the competitors, so literally what's the point? While GT3 also suffers from the dreaded BoP, at least there's a real link to road cars. I'd personally prefer the top category to be some sort of GT3 plus with similar rules but a higher power to weight, maybe a bit more aerodynamic freedom and loser homologation rules to allow things like Paganis to come and play. Minimise BoP ideally, perhaps go back to the old technology equivalence, and try to allow those who did the best job to win

[nismo48]

DeejRC said:

Dunno why, but I m getting serious old Pug 905 vibes from that.

Me too

[HighwayStar]

nismo48 said:

DeejRC said:

Dunno why, but I m getting serious old Pug 905 vibes from that.

Me too

+2