Ford Performance is headed back to international prototype racing, ramping up its Hypercar entry for the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Ford already fields a strong WEC program in the LMGT3 class with a pack of Ford Mustang GT3 racers, and while its prototype campaign is charging ahead, the automaker has no plans to sideline GT3. In fact, it’s doubling down with plans to run both.
Ford Performance head Mark Rushbrook revealed the automaker’s future motorsports plans in an interview with Daily Sportscar. The Blue Oval will continue to race in the LMGT3 division while also taking on Hypercar competitors in 2027 and beyond. After all, it’s “part of our DNA,” Rushbrook explained.
“We want our racing, race to road, and have that direct tie,” he said. “We can do that with Hypercar and the necessary technology, but we can do it even better with the Mustang GT3 global platform. The body for a Mustang GT3 starts at Flat Rock Assembly Plant like every other Mustang. The relevant connection back to our road-going product underscores our commitment to LMGT3.”
In short, the Mustang is the face of The Blue Oval’s global motorsports push, but Ford Performance values the Hypercar class, too. Rushbrook said that the unique division is a powerful testbed and global marketing tool. And, eventually, Ford wants to race in the FIA WEC as a factory program – something that its customer-driven Mustang GT3 efforts don’t offer.
“We have an opportunity to campaign a factory program in the IMSA GTD Pro category, which allows us to continue development of the Mustang GT3 platform,” he said. “We have a great partner in Proton Competition, which is racing in the WEC LMGT3 class as a customer program. Ultimately, our goal in WEC is to run as a factory program. We’re encouraged that Hypercar is the way.”
That forthcoming Hypercar entry is a mystery thus far, but Ford Performance has been drip-feeding details. We know that the race car will be powered by a V8 engine, while its chassis will be provided by ORECA.
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