Before Matt Damon portrayed Carroll Shelby in the film Ford v Ferrari, the story of Ford’s 1960s rivalry with Ferrari at Le Mans wasn’t widely known. However, the film’s success has brought this historic competition to the forefront of public awareness. Since then, although both companies have continued to compete in motorsport, Ford has not actively sought to reclaim the overall victory at Le Mans from Ferrari—until now, as they are considering a comeback.
In response to a question about whether Ford would consider entering a competitor in the prototype class at Le Mans, Mark Rushbrook, Ford Performance’s global director, told Autocar that the team is “constantly studying or looking at where we can race, or should race.”
Currently, Ford competes against Ferrari in the GT3 class at Le Mans, with the Mustang facing off against the Ferrari 296. However, Ferrari also competes in the elite Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) category, which features hybrid prototypes designed for overall success at the Circuit de la Sarthe. Ford has not participated in the top classes since the iconic GT40 retired in 1967, with its successor, the P68, failing to achieve success the following year. Nevertheless, this does not indicate that Ford’s absence from the top tiers is permanent.
Rushbrook explained, “GTE and GT LM converged with GT3—so now we’ve got one focus for GT racing, which helped us make sense out of having the Mustang GT3—and the same at prototype [level]. Although the prototype classes have not truly merged, we now have the opportunity to race them together, which has been beneficial.”
He continued, “When you look at the number of manufacturers participating, some opt for LMDh while others choose LMH. So, yes, we are exploring this possibility, but that doesn’t guarantee any specific actions.”
In the end, Ford will pursue strategies that align with its business objectives. The company has previously noted that racing the Mustang at events like Le Mans stimulates interest in its sports cars. Additionally, with its F-150 Lightning SuperTruck Pikes Peak racer—not an F-150 Lightning or a truck in the traditional sense—Ford channels business towards its electric pickups. If Ford can create a compelling business rationale for developing an LMH or LMDh vehicle (both of which compete in the same Hypercar class in the World Endurance Championship and IMSA) to challenge Ferrari, it will likely proceed.
Rushbrook remarked, “What makes things easier is that [Ford CEO Jim Farley] understands what motorsports entails and the benefits it brings. However, he also emphasizes the need for these efforts to align with responsible and sustainable business practices.”
As Ferrari celebrates its second consecutive victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ford may feel motivated to once again take on its old competitor. While there isn’t a current plan to produce another Ford GT supercar that would link a road vehicle to the race car, there is potential for the brand to leverage the recent film’s success to renew public interest and challenge Ferrari.
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