The Ford WEC Hypercar program has been confirmed to make full factory entry for the 2027 season.
The American automotive giant aims to compete for overall victories at prestigious events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, reviving one of motorsport’s most iconic rivalries while leveraging new LMDh prototype regulations.
The landmark confirmation of Ford WEC Hypercar program was made during Ford Performance’s annual season launch event in Charlotte, North Carolina marking the manufacturer’s first factory-backed effort to challenge for outright honors at Le Mans since the 1980s.
Ford is renowned for the legendary GT40 program of the 1960s which was created specifically to defeat Ferrari at Le Mans and ultimately produced four consecutive victories from 1966-1969. However, the ill-fated C100 Group C program of the early 1980s forced them out of competition.
More recent factory efforts include the GT GTE Pro campaign that claimed class honors at Le Mans in 2016, 50 years after the original GT40’s first triumph.
The Ford WEC Hypercar program will operate under Ford Performance – the company’s motorsports division that currently fields entries in NASCAR, Australian Supercars, and GT3 categories worldwide.
This initiative continues the brand’s tradition of using motorsport to drive technological innovation and brand visibility which Executive Chair Bill Ford framed as part of a broader corporate strategy.
“We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford,” said Bill. “You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road.
“When we race, we race to win and there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans. It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again.
“I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’”
The Ford WEC Hypercar program will utilize the LMDh platform, a cost-effective hybrid prototype formula that allows manufacturers to compete globally in both WEC and IMSA SportsCar Championship events.
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While technical specifications remain under wraps, industry insiders suggest Ford has partnered with ORECA for chassis development, though Multimatic – the engineering firm behind Ford’s recent GT racing successes – remains a potential collaborator.
The power unit represents another area of intense speculation, with rumors pointing to a high-revving V8 configuration potentially branded under Ford’s Mustang performance lineage.
Notably absent from Ford’s initial announcement was any mention of IMSA GTP participation, despite the shared regulatory framework between WEC and IMSA’s top class.
While the company maintains logistical flexibility to expand into the North American series, current focus remains squarely on the global WEC stage and the 24 Hours of Le Mans before considering transatlantic expansion.
The Ford WEC Hypercar program’s human infrastructure also remains a subject of intense interest. Driver lineup speculation has already begun, with current factory drivers like Joey Hand and recent Daytona 24h GT3 class winner Harry Tincknell potential contenders for seats.
FIA WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien emphasized the significance of Ford’s commitment: “Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades, and we are delighted that the company has chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest challenge.
“To have at least ten major automotive brands in our premier class by 2027 demonstrates the championship’s unprecedented growth and relevance.”
President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) Pierre Fillon highlighted the historic resonance of Ford’s return, noting: “It is wonderful news to welcome Ford back to the top level of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time in almost 60 years.
“It is a brand that has always had a close affinity with this very special race, and history shows that Ford does not compete to finish second. The renewal of its famous rivalry with Ferrari is truly an exciting prospect.”
The Ford WEC Hypercar program’s development timeline appears aggressive but achievable, with most LMDh programs requiring approximately two years from initial design to race debut.
