Ford Performance Not Interested In Racing Prototypes

February 13, 2023 10:54 am

FoMoCo is in the midst of a major motorsports push, one featuring the all-new S650 Ford Mustang in a variety of series including GT3, GT4, NASCAR, NHRA Factory X, Australian Supercars, IMSA, SRO, and FIA GT. competition. Additionally, Ford announced that it will be partnering with Oracle Red Bull Racing following Porsche’s pullout as it aims to return to Formula 1 racing in 2026 following an exhaustive search for a team that it can supply power units for. However, there is one particular form of motorsport that Ford Performance isn’t interested in, according to MotorTrend – Le Mans Prototype racing.

“No, I don’t think we’re much into [racing] Prototypes at Ford,” said CEO Jim Farley. “I’m increasingly thinking that what’s cool in the world is GTD [GT Daytona-class racers] and GT cars. That’s where the action really is. How do you make a car that … really, really surprises customers? And you can use it on a track day, and you can use it to commute, and you can actually feel comfortable with it.”

“The Mustang pillar includes sports car racing globally, at all levels from grassroots to professional,” added Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook. “And we can do it with a production-based car allowing us to fully benefit from two-way tech transfer and make a meaningful connection to our passionate fans. IMSA and WEC Prototypes would add an element of electrification, but we’re very satisfied with the electrification, both [on the] technical and marketing [sides], we will have in WRC with the Puma hybrid and now in F1.”

The cars Farley and Rushbrook are referring to are the ones otherwise known as the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona Hybrid or GTP) and LMH (Le Mans Hypercar), racers that compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the U.S. and the FIA World Endurance Championship in other parts of the world. Given the heavy presence of many of Ford’s competitors in that type of motorsport, as well as the cars’ hybrid powertrains, it would make perfect sense for Ford to put its proverbial hat in that ring as well, but for now, such a move doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

We’ll have more on Ford’s racing efforts soon, so sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford motorsports news and 24/7 Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.