ALL NEW FORD GT RACE CAR TO MAKE EUROPEAN DEBUT AT SILVERSTONE AHEAD OF HISTORIC RETURN TO LE MANS

◾All-new Ford GT will make its European racing debut at the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship at Silverstone in the U.K. in April

◾Two cars will compete in the GT-Endurance Pro Class ahead of a return to Le Mans where the original Ford GT40 famously first won 50 years ago

BRENTWOOD, Essex – Monday, 21 September, 2015 -- Ford's all-new GT race car – revealed at Le Mans in June – will make its European racing debut at the Silverstone Circuit in the U.K. next April.

Two cars will line up on the grid for the opening round of the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) where they will compete in the GT-Endurance Pro Class for the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy.

The event is the first of nine WEC rounds announced by the FIA for 2016. Ford will later make its historic return to the Le Sarthe circuit in France where, 50 years ago, Ford's GT40 won the first of four consecutive Le Mans titles.

'We believe the Ford GT's advances in aerodynamics, light-weighting and EcoBoost power will make for a compelling race car that can once again compete on a global stage,' said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. 'The same spirit that drove the innovation behind the first Ford GT still drives us as a company today. Let the racing begin!'

Both the race car and production car will arrive in 2016 to mark the 50th anniversary of Ford GT40 race cars placing 1-2-3 at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford went on to repeat its victory at Le Mans in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

As well as competing in the full 2016 FIA WEC, the GT Race Car will contest the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (WTSCC), making its global competition debut in January at the Rolex 24 in Daytona, Fla.

Drivers' details will be announced later.

2016 FIA World Endurance Championship Provisional Calendar*

Alongside the existing eight rounds an additional race will take place in Mexico, to be confirmed as the contract is still being finalised. The 2016 schedule will feature nine races in four continents:

◾March 25/6: The Prologue, Circuit Paul Ricard, France

◾April 17: 6 Hours of Silverstone, Great Britain

◾May 7: WEC 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium

◾June 5: 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day

◾June 18/19: 24 Hours of Le Mans, France

◾July 24: 6 Hours of Nürburgring, Germany

◾Sept. 4: 6 Hours of Mexico City, Mexico (TBC)

◾Sept. 17: 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas (Lone Star Le Mans), U.S.

◾Oct. 16: 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan

◾Nov. 6: 6 Hours of Shanghai, China

◾Nov. 19: 6 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain

2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Schedule

◾Jan 30/31: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.**

◾Mar 19: Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.**

◾Apr 16: Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, Calif. (WeatherTech Championship

Prototype (P), Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Le Mans (GTLM) only)

◾May 1: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.

◾June 4: Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich. (P, PC and GT Daytona (GTD) only)

◾July 3: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.**

◾July 10: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada

◾July 23: Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn. (PC, GTLM and GTD only)

◾Aug. 7: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

◾Aug. 21: Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (GTLM and GTD only)

◾Sept. 17: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas

◾Oct. 1: Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.**

* Subject to validation by the FIA World Motor Sport Council

** Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup events

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Michigan manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 195,000 employees and 66 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.

Ford of Europe is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 67,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 23 manufacturing facilities (15 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.

Photo credit: Ford
posted on conceptcarz.com

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