Rushbrook: Ford Yet to Sign Final Two Drivers for Hypercar Effort

Photo: Bob Chapman/Ford

Ford Racing has yet to sign the final two drivers for its FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar program according to the manufacturer’s global director Mark Rushbrook.

The ‘Blue Oval’ which has already announced Mike Rockenfeller, Seb Priaulx and Logan Sargeant to the effort that’s set to debut in 2027, is expected to confirm Matt Campbell next week in Le Mans.

However, speaking with assembled reporters at this weekend’s Detroit Grand Prix, Rushbrook revealed that two seats are still yet to be filled.

When asked by Sportscar365 if recent developments in the driver market, amid Acura’s pausing of its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship program, has played an influence on Ford’s evaluations, Rushbrook said: “For sure because there are drivers available today that we did not believe would be available three months ago.

“We’re definitely talking to different people, different drivers, in recent weeks, that we didn’t expect to.”

Colin Braun has been one name floating around the Detroit paddock as a potential candidate to join the Hypercar effort, with the 37-year-old American having held previous ties to Ford, in both NASCAR and sports car racing.

Rushbrook, however, said adding a second American driver to its lineup, alongside Sargeant, is not the top priority.

“Priority number one is winning,” he said. “If all things are equal and an American driver is available, as ‘America’s Race Team’ we would be very interested in that.

“But it’s not the first priority.”

Rushbrook Hints at Possible 2028 Rolex 24 Effort for Ford LMDh Car

While Rushbrook’s position on a possible WeatherTech Championship GTP program hasn’t changed since earlier this month, he admitted 2028 is “wide open” in terms of possibilities with its yet-to-be-named LMDh car.

“For 2027, we’re committed to the full season of WEC. That’s all we’re going to be able to do,” he said.

“For 2028, it’s wide open. There would be a lot of sense, for sure, the 24 Hours of Daytona would be of interest, even if it’s a one-off race or an opportunity to do the Endurance Cup.

“We’re so focused on development right now with the engines running on dynos literally as we speak, to the tests and shakedown that we need to do.

“We need to start the 2027 WEC season, see where we are, and then see what makes sense for 2028 and beyond.”

When asked if Meyer Shank Racing, which has been fielding Acura’s factory GTP effort that will be suspended at years’ end, could be in contention as an operator of a potential WeatherTech Championship GTP program, Rushbrook said he wouldn’t rule anything out.

“We love Mike Shank,” he said. “We’ve raced with him in the past, we’ve had success with him. I was so happy for him last weekend in Indianapolis and exchanged messages with him.

“Of course, if we do come to IMSA, MSR would be a team we would talk to.”

Ford is set to undertake the WEC Hypercar effort with an in-house operation built from scratch, with some of the engineers and staff to be involved in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans in the No. 9 Proton Competition Oreca 07 Gibson in LMP2.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John