Aside from guiding The Blue Oval into an entirely new era of electrification and overseeing its forthcoming reorganization, Ford CEO Jim Farley also finds the time to record podcasts and even go vintage car racing, a hobby that the auto exec was adamant to continue even after taking over the helm of the automaker. Farley is also pretty good at it, having recently scored impressive finishes in a number of races, including the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Laguna Seca, the Road Atlanta Grand Prix, the Sportscar Vintage Racing Association’s Sebring Speed Tour, and crossing the line first at the Classic 12 Hours of Sebring. Now, Jim Farley has another trophy to add to his proverbial case after earning a podium finish at the Le Mans Classic.
The Le Mans Classic, which takes place in France, is an endurance race just like the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans, but it lasts for a “mere” three hours. The race is broken down into a number of different classes for various vintage vehicles, though Farley’s 1965 Ford GT40 truly shined with a second-place class finish.
That particular ride – chassis number 1109 – is one of the last four GT40s built and is undoubtedly valuable, but Farley continues to race it at events all over the world. This isn’t the first time Farley has raced his GT40 in the Le Mans Classic (where he previously competed in his 1978 Lola 298), and the historic car has also seen action recently at the Goodwood Revival and Spa 6 Hour race in Belgium.
A dream come true. A podium finish at LeMans Classic in a GT40. Three hours of flat-out racing against some of the best drivers I know. What a great team! pic.twitter.com/q9NaAbw3lL
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) July 4, 2022
Farley – who also owns a 1966 Cobra – enjoyed his highest finish at the Le Mans Classic to date with this second-place ranking, however, as Ford spokesperson Lori Alpin confirmed to the Detroit Free Press. “This was Jim’s best-ever performance at the Le Mans Classic, which is regarded as the premier sports car race for historic vehicles in the world,” she said.
We’ll have more on Jim Farley’s motorsports endeavors soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for 24/7 Ford news coverage.
Comments
From the man who wants to get rid of ICE engines.
Jim Farley’s one and only job at Ford is to make Ford investors as much money as possible and expand the business as much as it can tolerate. If people are buying SUVs and EVs and are not buying cars and are moving away from ICE vehicles, the only thing Jim should be doing is responding to the market.
People would rather see Ford die making Fiesta with V8s rather than grow, adapt, and lead. It’s the reason Ford’s stock was considered “junk” for most of the last quarter century.
As always, if you don’t want an EV, don’t buy one. Ford still offers ICE engines in literally every model it makes (unless you consider the Mach-E not a Mustang).
Got to say, like him or not, it’s nice to have a race guy at the helm. At least we hope that will keep the fun element in at least some of the company’s products.
Keep it up, Jim!!
If your not the lead Dog the view never changes!
Who was the second and third guy’s to Discover AMERICA? Nobody cares!
If only Farley would devote the same energy to vehicle production, there would not be competitors’ vehicles sitting in my local Ford dealership’s showroom…
Focus on what’s important Nero, I mean, Jimmy!
Robert – if the CEO doesn’t forsake Everything: family, friends, personal activities, in his life for the business, the business does not succeed to it’s potential. That’s not a good scenario for any of the former, but balance doesn’t have a place when you’re at this scale.
The most successful companies have “machines” at the helm that are singularly focused on the business.
Do you think Farley jumps in his race car only on race day?