Ford has officially announced its return to the prestigious Le Mans 24 Hours race in 2027, aiming for overall victory with a new LMDh prototype as part of a World Endurance Championship (WEC) campaign. The move marks the American automaker’s first full-factory assault on Le Mans since the Group C Ford C100 program in 1982.
The decision was revealed by Ford Motor Company’s Executive Chair, Bill Ford, during a motorsport launch event in Charlotte, North Carolina. Reflecting on the brand’s storied history at Le Mans, he highlighted the company’s iconic victories between 1966 and 1969 with the Ford MkII, MkIV, and GT40, as well as its triumph in the GTE Pro class in 2016, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first outright win.
A Return to Ford’s Racing Legacy
“There is no track or race that holds more significance in our history than Le Mans,” Bill Ford stated. “It’s where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s, and it’s where we returned 50 years later to beat Ferrari again. Now, we’re ready to challenge the world once more and ‘go like hell’—because when Ford races, we race to win.”
The addition of an LMDh program will expand Ford’s presence in the WEC, where it already competes in the LMGT3 category with two Mustang GT3s operated by Proton Competition. It will also mark a significant expansion in top-tier motorsport, as Ford is set to return to Formula 1 in 2026 through its partnership with Red Bull Racing. By 2027, the Blue Oval will be competing at the highest level in four FIA world championships, including the World Rally Championship (WRC) and the World Rally-Raid Championship.
New Hypercar Class Entry and Strategic Plans
While specific details of the LMDh project remain undisclosed, Ford confirmed that the effort will be a full-factory initiative led by its Ford Performance division. The automaker has yet to reveal the team it will partner with, the drivers, or whether it will also compete in the IMSA SportsCar Championship, where the LMDh car would be eligible for the GTP class.
A spokesperson for Ford Performance emphasized that the initial focus is on WEC, allowing the company to spotlight its return to Le Mans as a contender for the overall title. However, given Ford’s history in IMSA prototype racing—including past successes with the Mustang GTP and the Chip Ganassi Racing-run Riley prototype, which won the 2015 Daytona 24 Hours—it is highly likely that the brand will enter IMSA’s GTP category as well.
Potential Partnerships and Industry Reactions
Ford has yet to confirm which licensed LMDh chassis supplier it will collaborate with. However, Multimatic Motorsports, which has a longstanding relationship with Ford, emerges as a probable partner. The Canadian firm previously developed both the road and race versions of the Ford GT and played a key role in the design of the current Mustang GT3. However, its existing partnership with Porsche on the 963 LMDh project raises questions about its availability for a Ford collaboration.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm from WEC officials and Le Mans organizers, signaling that by 2027, at least ten manufacturers will compete in the Hypercar class—assuming all current participants remain in the series. WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien welcomed Ford’s return, stating, “Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off the track for decades, and we are delighted that the company has chosen the WEC for its latest challenge.”
As anticipation builds, Ford has promised to reveal more details about its Le Mans 24 Hours campaign in the near future, setting the stage for another historic showdown at the Circuit de la Sarthe.