Ford Wins Le Mans!
The No. 68 Ford GT of Sbastien Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (United States) and Dirk Mller (GER) crossed the finish line at Le Mans at 3 o'clock on Sunday, as the overall GT winner of the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours. The No. 69 Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe (AUS), Scott Dixon (NZ) and Richard Westbrook (GB) signed up with the winners on the podium after scoring third place. The Nos. 66 and 67 Ford GTs finished in fourth and ninth places, respectively.
" This is a historic minute for the Ford Motor Company," said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. The pride we all felt when the Ford GT crossed the line at Le Mans is indescribable. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing group showed the spirit of Ford, that of innovation, determination and real teamwork. We cherish our history and heritage, but today we made history again and I couldn't be more proud.
First revealed to the media at Le Mans in 2014, the Ford GT's Le Mans triumph comes 395 days after the vehicle turned a wheel for the very first time on May 20, 2015, at Calabogie Motorsports Park in Canada. A Herculean effort from the Ford Chip Ganassi team has actually changed the automobile into a Le Mans winner in simply over one year.
" Building a new car and racing it at Le Mans is a monumental task," commented Mark Fields, president and primary executive officer, Ford Motor Company. It has been extraordinary to share this event with our dealerships, owners, workers, sponsors and visitors who are all bursting with pride at being part of the Ford household.
After a titanic battle with the No. 82 Ferrari, the No. 68 Ford GT took the lead for the final time in the 20th hour of the race. Hand lagged the wheel on the three occasions that the Ford passed the Ferrari, rekindling a 50-year-old competition in between the two vehicle manufacturers.
" It's a big deal to come back here 50 years after the Ford win in 1966," said Hand. They all worked hard, right through Christmas and New Year and provided us a race car that we can race hard. I'm a red, white and blue guy so to be part of the Ford family , where they treat you like their own, is a great place to be."
This triumph is especially sweet for Bourdais who was born within sight of Tertre Rouge. The Frenchman had actually contended at Le Mans 10 times previously but this is his very first win.
"There was so much effort, so much emotion, and to be the one that wins the trophy to provide to the Ford household and everyone involved is extremely unique. Everything lined up for us today-- the history, the Ferrari/Ford fight, 50 years on and the Ford household being here.
The No. 66 Ford GT, raced by Billy Johnson (United States), Stefan Mcke (GER) and Olivier Pla (FRA) was in contention for a top result throughout the race's infancy however a small electrical issue put paid to their attack. Such is the speed of the Le Mans 24 Hours, one extra moment in the pits is all it takes to be from the running.
The No. 67 Ford GT of Marino Franchitti (GB), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Harry Tincknell (GB) experienced a gearbox issue at the start of the race so they had to play catch up for the full 24 hours, coming home in ninth place.
With his 175th success as a group owner, Chip Ganassi ends up being the only owner in history to win the Indianapolis 500, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Rolex 24 At Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring and Le Mans 24 Hours.
The No. 66 Ford GT makes maximum FIA World Endurance Championship points from this event, which fires up the competition for the remainder of the WEC weather. The IMSA Ford Chip Ganassi Racing group is flying high all the way back to the US for the next round of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Watkins Glen on July 3.
