Alan Mann Racing has long been known for helping to fuel Ford’s motorsports success in a big way, which is precisely what prompted The Blue Oval to create the limited-edition 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition, which honors that outfit’s Ford GT lightweight experimental prototypes from 1965 and 1966 – cars that played a big role in the automaker’s legendary 1-2-3 sweep at the 1966 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Thus, it’s not a huge surprise that FoMoCo has decided to honor Alan Mann Racing with its prestigious “Spirit of Ford” award, the company has announced – its highest honor in the world of motorsports.
Edsel B. Ford II presented Alan Mann’s sons – Henry and Tom – with the Spirit of Ford Award at the American Muscle Car Museum in front of a couple hundred Blue Oval fans recently, where a 1966 Alan Mann GT40 was also in attendance. Alan Mann Racing was originally formed in 1964 and quickly found success after winning the Tour de France in a Mustang. The next year, it participated in the European rounds of the World GT Championship with the Shelby Cobra, which went on to win the World Championship for Shelby/Ford for the first time. In the early 2000s, both Henry and Tom took over the reigns from their father and have since gone on to become a stalwart in historic racing events around the world.
“The achievements of Alan Mann Racing has had a significant impact on Ford Performance through the years,” said Ford CEO Jim Farley. “They were at the starting line when Ford’s Mustang first took to the track in 1964 with the famous Tour de France victory and later with the iconic Shelby Cobra. We celebrate Alan Mann Racing for their ambitions on and off the track, challenging competitors ahead of their time. As Ford embarks on its most ambitious year of racing Mustang around the world, Henry and Tom Mann continue to drive the business forward and are passionate advocates for the Ford brand.”
“It is an incredible and unexpected honor to receive this award,” said Henry Mann, CEO of Alan Mann Racing. “Our team has worked exclusively with Ford products since its origin 60 years ago, and this relationship has been one which has given much pride and pleasure to our family. I know my father would have been delighted that the successes he achieved with Ford are still being recognized and celebrated today. As part of Ford’s extended racing family, we wish the whole Ford team every success with their fantastic new Mustang when it hits the track later this week.”
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Comment
Thanks for covering this story. It’s an important era of automotive history and Ford motorsports.