Ford has sent out a press release that is teasing some sort of Ford GT announcement that will happen at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK at 4:45 a.m. EDT on July 4. Along with the confirmation that there will be a dedicated Ford GT announcement at Goodwood comes word that Hermann Salenbauch from Ford Performance and Larry Holt from Multimatic will deliver the announcement.
Salenbauch was moved into a position in 2017 that sees him leading production-vehicle development for Ford Performance while another executive, Mark Rushbrook, is in charge of racing efforts. Holt has had his hands in many supercar projects over at Multimatic, the place where the Ford GT is built. Take those two names along with the teaser image Ford has released, and we wonder what the announcement is, a new version of the Ford GT street car perhaps?
At first glance that sizeable rear wing you see sticking out each side of the car looks like a racer, but the end plates seem much larger than any we have seen on Ford GTs meant for the track. This car also appears to have a larger than normal roof air intake. The racing Ford GT has a smaller air scoop for the engine, but we couldn’t find an image of the racing car from a low front angle where it can be seen as it can in the new teaser photo.
Then we have the headlights; production Ford GT cars have that inner and outer light pattern, we could find no shots of a Ford GT racing car with this type of headlight fitted. Because Ford has announced an end to factory racing programs, we don’t think this is a racer. Are we looking at some sort of new, higher performance Ford GT for the road? Judging by the names associated with the Ford GT announcement at Goodwood, we hope so.
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Comments
Maybe this is a special built for Pikes Peak or something similar.
The GT has been so over-regulated in the IMSA/Le’mans series, I’ve seen too many yellow flags to tighten up the field, and too many slight infringements be penalized. It is not just IMSA, F1 and Nascar are the same. It is no longer about racing…it is just getting first place even if it is a day later.
Does anyone know an honest racing series?
Can’t prove any relation but I did pass a Ford GT this morning on Northbound I-75 just north of Woodhaven Michigan. Local Police had it pulled over. No plates, no spoiler, and no Ford badge but there was no mistaking that car body. It was in a tan undercoat of sorts, spotted one in that similar look back in the summer of 2017. Curious to know if they were testing one for whatever this could be. Too weird of a coincidence not to post.
Since the car will be available for privateer racers. Maybe some new aero added to the current GT. Another option is Ford built a Hyper car with more aero and more horsepower. We have been told a V8 will not fit in the GT. Is it possible a Preditor made it’s way into the engine department? No, but it certainly would be even a more amazing car.
I’m thinking if it was a racing car, Mark Rushbrook, who handles the racing side, would be doing the announcement rather than Salenbauch, who handles production cars. I’m looking forward to finding out.