◾Ford Chip Ganassi Racing ready to compete at Le Mans 24 Hours with four Ford GT race cars

◾Le Mans return celebrates 50th anniversary of Ford's famous 1-2-3 race finish

LE MANS, France, June 6, 2016 – A light rain was falling and grey clouds hung low over the rolling French countryside, producing premature twilight as three sleek prototype automobiles rolled across the finish line to end the 24 Hours of Le Mans for 1966.

So began the last press release that Ford issued from Le Mans in 1966. That race became the subject of a book by A.J. Baime titled 'Go Like Hell!' – the words shouted by Bruce McLaren to Chris Amon as they drove to their famous victory. Fifty years on from that historic 1-2-3 finish for the Ford GT40 at the world's greatest endurance race, Ford is back.

The four Ford GTs run by the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team took to the track at Le Mans yesterday for the official Test Day. This was the first time the Ford GTs have run at Le Mans as the team prepares for the 24-hour race that starts at 15:00 CET on June 18.

'Fifty years ago, one of the most legendary moments in motorsports history took place as the duel between Ford and Ferrari took place on the track at Le Mans 1966,' said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. 'Once again, all eyes will be focused on this legendary race as Ford returns to take on the best in endurance racing.'

'From the outset, we developed the all-new Ford GT to return Ford to the world of GT endurance racing,' said Raj Nair, executive vice president, Global Product Development and chief technical officer. 'We're pleased with the progress we've made so far, including winning at Laguna Seca and taking second place at Spa. We are looking forward to further pushing the capabilities of this next-generation GT at Le Mans.'

In 2016 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing is running two Ford GTs in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The WEC team, in only their second race, recently took second place at Spa Francorchamps in Belgium, putting them in second place in the WEC drivers' and teams' standings going into Le Mans. The IMSA team have four races under their belts and crucially the first race victory for the Ford GT after a great win at Laguna Seca in the U.S. This result moved them up to third place in in the IMSA drivers' and teams' standings.

'It is exciting for me personally and for all of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing to be going to Le Mans to race, especially given the 50th anniversary of Ford's historic 1966 win,' said Chip Ganassi. 'We have enjoyed racing the new Ford GT this season and expect to be strong at Le Mans.'

The two WEC Ford GTs retain their #66 and #67 race numbers for Le Mans while the IMSA cars become #68 and #69, celebrating Ford's Le Mans victories in 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Le Mans driver line-ups:

66 - Billy Johnson (US), Stefan Mücke (GER), Olivier Pla (FRA)

67 - Marino Franchitti (GB), Andy Priaulx (GB), Harry Tincknell (GB)

68 - Sébastien Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (US), Dirk Müller (GER)

69 - Ryan Briscoe (AUS), Scott Dixon (NZ), Richard Westbrook (GB)

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company is a global automotive and mobility company based in Dearborn, Mich. With about 201,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company's core business includes designing, manufacturing, marketing, financing and servicing a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs and electrified vehicles, as well as Lincoln luxury vehicles. At the same time, Ford is aggressively pursuing emerging opportunities through Ford Smart Mobility, the company's plan to be a leader in connectivity, mobility, autonomous vehicles, the customer experience and data and analytics. For more information regarding Ford, its products worldwide or Ford Motor Credit Company, 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 68,000 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 24 manufacturing facilities (16 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.

About Chip Ganassi Racing Teams

Chip Ganassi has been a fixture in the auto racing industry for over 25 years and is considered one of the most successful as well as innovative owners the sport has anywhere in the world. Today his teams include four cars in the Verizon IndyCar Series, two cars in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, one car in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, two factory Ford GT's in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, two factory Ford GT's in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two Supercars in Red Bull Global Rallycross. Overall his teams have 18 championships and 170 victories, including four Indianapolis 500s, a Daytona 500, a Brickyard 400 and six Rolex 24 At Daytonas and the 12 Hours of Sebring. Ganassi boasts state-of-the-art race shop facilities in Indianapolis and Concord, N.C., with a corporate office in Pittsburgh, Penn. For more information log onto: www.chipganassiracing.com

Photo credit: Ford
posted on conceptcarz.com

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