Ford ‘can’t afford to wait for the racetrack to start learning’

Ford is set to make a significant move into the FIA WEC’s premier Hypercar class next year, aiming to reignite its historic legacy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The American manufacturer has been rigorously testing its 5.4-litre naturally-aspirated Coyote V8 engine on dynos in Dearborn, using advanced simulations of the Circuit de la Sarthe to validate performance. Key figures, including Ford Racing Powertrain Chief Engineer Christian Hertrich, emphasized the importance of these 'virtual proving grounds' to ensure the team arrives at the track fully prepared. With a driver lineup featuring Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, Matt Campbell, Tom Blomqvist, and Nick Yelloly, Ford is leveraging lessons from its historic GT40 era to refine its modern prototype ahead of upcoming real-world tests.