Ford GT clinches historic LM GTE Pro win at Le Mans

The recently-concluded 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours race in France was a historic moment for Ford as the latest GT took home the LM GTE Pro category title – a hard-fought victory that came exactly 50 years after the legendary GT40’s 1966 win.

The American carmaker fielded 4 cars with 3 drivers each in the said racing event. Of the 4 cars, the No. 68 Ford GT emerged as the the overall winner of the LM GTE Pro category. It was driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Joey Hand, and Dirk Müller.   

Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford said that the win is a historic moment for the brand.

“This is a historic moment for the Ford Motor Company. We dared to dream that we could return to Le Mans, 50 years after the incredible 1966 win, and take on the toughest competition in the world. The pride we all felt when the Ford GT crossed the line at Le Mans is indescribable,” said Ford.

The battle was intense for the No. 68 car, especially in the closing hours of the race as the No. 82 Ferrari kept the pressure up high. This reminded racing fans of the rivalry between Ford and Ferrari back in ’66 after the 2 cars swapped leads for about 3 times. 

In the end, it was the Ford GT that came out on top with Joey Hand behind the wheel. On the other hand, the No. 69 Ford GT car placed 3rd overall, followed by the No. 66 Ford GT car in 4th while the No. 67 Ford GT car finished the race in 9th.   

“It’s a big deal to come back here 50 years after the Ford win in 1966. We wanted to win, but to actually do it is huge,” exclaimed Hand.

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