Ford's new Hypercar makes unofficial debut at Paul Ricard circuit for Le Mans return

Hypercar Debut at Paul Ricard

Ford's new, unnamed Hypercar made its unofficial debut with its first track test at the Paul Ricard circuit in Provence, France. Drivers Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant were involved in the initial testing phase, focusing on the car's speed and reliability.

Return to Le Mans Overall Victory Ambitions

Ford aims to secure an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with this new Hypercar. The company has four overall wins at Le Mans, with the last one occurring in 1969. Ford previously returned to endurance racing in 1982 with the C100, but that program was unsuccessful.

Entry into the Hypercar Category

The increasing popularity of the Hypercar category in the World Endurance Championship and at Le Mans has prompted Ford's return to the fastest class of racing. In 2016, Ford achieved a class win in the GTE-Pro category, 50 years after its first overall victory.

Hypercar Design Approaches

The Hypercar category allows for two primary design approaches: LMH and LMDh. The LMH approach involves designing and building the entire car, including the option to mount the hybrid system's electrical motor on the front axle, as seen with manufacturers like Ferrari, Peugeot, and Toyota, or to omit it entirely.