Rushbrook: We want Ford and Ferrari to compete in the WEC again

      At the end of January, it became known that Ford Corporation would return to the highest category of endurance racing, for which it would develop and build its own hypercar. According to Mark Rushbrook, director of Ford Perfomance, work on the LMDh class sports prototype has already begun.

      "While developing our motorsport strategy, we were figuring out which championships we would like to compete in, and at that moment it didn't seem to us that racing sports prototypes was what we needed," the American edition of Racer quotes Rushbrook. – We have decided that our strategy will be based on four areas: participation in international competitions with our Mustang sports cars, off-road racing (Dakar), holding demonstrations of our electric vehicles (speed climbing competitions on Pikes Peak Mountain) and Formula 1…

      But now it seems to us that the right moment has come to join the sports prototype race. Since the technical regulations in this category have been extended until 2029, it is the right time to make such a decision."

      According to Racer, Ford has chosen the Canadian company Multimatic as a technology partner for chassis development. In particular, it is building a chassis for the Porsche factory team, which is quite successfully participating in the WEC. A decision on a powerplant program should be made soon, as it is still unclear whether future V8 engines will be naturally aspirated or equipped with turbines.

      The year 2025 is set aside for the development of the Ford hypercar, an intensive test program will begin in 2026, and the WEC debut is scheduled for 2027.

      "We haven't decided on many aspects yet – we just want to be perceived as Ford," Rushbrook said, while acknowledging that there are no plans to create our own full–time factory team. The American corporation will have to choose a partner among the existing teams specializing in endurance racing and conclude the necessary cooperation agreements.

      "Competing at Le Mans with the world's leading automakers means a lot to our company," added Ford's director of Motorsport programs. – A few years ago, the film "Ford vs Ferrari" attracted a lot of attention to the famous story dating back to the 60s of the last century, and it is still remembered. We look forward to this rivalry again, we want Ford and Ferrari to compete on the tracks again, but more importantly, the WEC has become a championship of the highest level, in which many automakers participate. And we also want to perform in it."