Ford is set to return to Le Mans in 2016 with a new car developed by Multimatic. Obviously the Ford GT will be the vehicle and the on-track development of a Le Mans-capable Ford GT race car, which also will share the Daytona Prototype’s motor will also run a Ricardo-designed, and built gearbox the Chip Ganassi Racing EcoBoost Daytona Prototype car runs an Xtrac transaxle.
The company has restructured its high performance and motorsport divisions and created a single new corporate entity called ‘Ford Performance’. It combines Ford Racing, Ford SVT and Team RS to serve as an innovation laboratory and test bed to create unique performance vehicles, parts, accessories and experiences for customers. This includes developing innovations and technologies in aerodynamics, light-weighting, electronics, powertrain performance and fuel efficiency that can be applied more broadly to Ford’s product portfolio.
In addition to using racetracks around the world, the team will develop new vehicles and technologies at Ford’s engineering centers globally and at the new technical centre in Concord, North Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility will help the team deliver racing innovations, as well as advance tools for use in performance vehicles and daily drivers alike. It is already equipped with some very high end simulation tools. The Ford Performance organisation is led by Dave Pericak, who has been appointed director, Global Ford Performance.
