Ford Racing Wanted “Shocking” Visual to Symbolize 125 Years

Photo: Wes Duenkel/Ford

Ford Racing was aiming to showcase a “shocking” visual to help tell the story of the company’s 125 years in motorsports according to Ford Racing on-road racing and product marketing manager Scott Bartlett, who devised the concept of creating a tribute livery to the brand’s first ever race-winner.

Both of the factory IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD Pro class Ford Mustang GT3 EVOs competing in this weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans are sporting an eye-catching design that resembles ‘Sweepstakes’ — Henry Ford’s first race car.

The two-cylinder two-speed machine, which produced 26 horsepower, claimed victory in a ten-mile race in Grosse Pointe, Mich. on Oct. 10, 1901, which helped kickstart the formation of the Ford Motor Company two years later.

“For us, it’s such a big moment in history,” said Bartlett. “We’ve been trying to beat that drum for the last year for 125. But we were trying to figure out what we could do that’s a bit more shocking than anything else that we’ve done.

“We’ve done exhibits with our historic cars lined up, but what could we do that’s a single statement that actually helps visualize and portrays the history there?

“It was actually when we were delivering the Myers Riley Motorsports car at the Henry Ford museum last year, right across from the Sweepstakes exhibit.

“As we’re delivering the car, which we put it in the Motorcraft livery from the ’80s, we pulled the cover off and I kept looking over at Sweepstakes and I’m like, ‘You know what, that may be our ticket for a crazy idea to help everyone understand 125 years of Ford Racing.’

“It took a little bit of convincing when I first told our leadership, ‘Hey, I want to put that livery on this car.’ The initial response was, ‘What are you talking about? How are you going to bring black and gold and red on to a Ford Racing car, which is supposed to be blue?’

“I think that’s actually the shocking moment that actually helped everyone understand the history.

“Visually, it’s such a big departure from how we normally show up. It’s a bit of a genesis.”

Bartlett said he and other members of the Ford Racing marketing and design teams went to work to see how they could carry over the colors and other aspects of Sweepstakes on to Ford Racing’s modern-day Mustang GT3 EVO.

“The most challenging part was the red wheels and white tires,” said Bartlett. “I didn’t dare ask Michelin if they could make a homologated GT3 tire that was white; I didn’t even bother with that question!

“That element is obviously missing. The red wheels was a bit challenging for us to do with our current wheels, so we wanted to bring that red accent into other areas of the car.

“The gold trim represents some of the copper and gold piping that you see around the car itself.”

The design team went through between five and six iterations, according to Bartlett, who was involved in multiple creative meetings before presenting the final proposed design to senior-level management.

“I could tell you how scared I was going into the first one trying to pitch the first concept,” he said. “But after as few revisions, it’s really cool.

“Outside of me, it was a huge group effort of, ‘Hey, what if we do this?’ and ‘What if we put H. Ford as one of the driver names on the pillar?’ which we did.

“The team just kept finding new ways to add on and create new clever touches. We’re using the first Ford Motor Company logos on the hood and on the deck lid.

“Once we got the ball rolling and could visualize the concept a bit more, the leadership team was absolutely behind it. Everyone started getting inspired and coming up with new ideas and new touches.”

Bartlett said there will be two more “surprises” in store for this weekend, including special race suits that the six drivers will wear on Saturday.

“The Pony itself, you can tell it’s actually transformed,” he said. “It’s always been pony outline. Now we have it filled with the American flag.

“For us it’s 125 for Ford Racing but it’s also America’s 250th birthday.

“With Ford being the most iconic American company by TIME Magazine, it’s something we’re very proud of and wanted to highlight that connection with America’s Race Team and the iconic American brand.

“You will also see a very unique feature at night-time with the pony. It’s ‘Glow Pony 2.0’ where you’ll see the actual full pony light up, with the flag. It’s going be really special.”

The timing of the tribute livery could not be any better, as it comes exactly one week to the day of Ford Racing’s 125th anniversary.

“Historically it’s fascinating to me,” said Ford Motor Company archives and heritage brand manager Ted Ryan.

“The timing is so perfect. Sweepstakes was an engineering marvel that Henry Ford did to prove the technical prowess and engineering that he had in building automobiles.

“I think that lies at the core and the DNA of what Ford Racing is doing now.

“The way we’re building our race cars, the technological advantages, racing on all the tracks around the world.

“The Sweepstakes livery and Petit Le Mans happening within a week of the actual anniversary, it just made perfect sense to apply this livery to the GT3 Mustang, which is the core of what Ford Racing is now.

“I think Henry Ford would be smiling down. Keep in mind he only raced the one time but he knew how important racing was and how important putting your name out there.”

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