Ford Hypercar Program to Be Run In-House

Photo: Ford

Ford Racing’s FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar squad will be run in-house, it was announced by the Detroit manufacturer on Thursday.

The ‘Blue Oval’ will operate its own factory program when it debuts in the globe-trotting championship in 2027 and is currently filling “dozens of roles” within the program, which will be based in the UK according to a Ford Racing spokesperson.

It will receive “technical and operational support” from UK-based Venture Engineering, which has worked with the likes of the Haas Formula 1 Team, Multimatic Motorsports, Aston Martin and Prodrive, the latter which Ford’s Hypercar team principal Dan Sayers previously served as technical director.

“At Ford Racing, competition runs through our veins and, as America’s race team, it seems only right that we carry the banner ourselves,” said Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook in a blog post.

“Keeping with our core values, our Hypercar program will be operated by Ford Racing. This gives us the ability to react more quickly on track, enhancing our competitiveness.

“It also allows us to bring technology back to our road cars more effectively and efficiently than ever before.

“Breaking from the traditional model of many manufacturers – and often our own model in the past – Ford Racing will oversee and manage every aspect of our prototype sports car racing project led by program manager, Dan Sayers.

“We are not looking outside our walls to find who can run a program for us; we are looking within Ford Racing to build our programs infused with our passion.

“We will also build our own internal expertise to create a framework for long term future success and learnings that will find their way into customer programs of the future.”

Rushbrook noted the challenges of building a team from the ground-up.

“Every role needs to be filled and that is no small task because we aren’t just filling the positions, we are building a team culture which mirrors that of Ford Racing: passionate and driven by a need to be the best,” he said.

“We have at our global disposal not only advanced racing facilities in Dearborn, Mich. and Charlotte here in the U.S., we have Red Bull Ford Powertrains and our Hypercar facilities in the UK as well.

“We also have our chassis partners at ORECA who have decades of winning experience who will also provide ongoing support to Ford Racing including trackside support.

“These are assets that no one can match, and we are focused on staying at the forefront in facilities, technology and people.

“In addition to ORECA’s support, we are pleased to say that longtime engineering and motorsport consultancy group Venture Engineering will provide technical and operational support.

Ford Racing will become only the third team on the WEC grid to run a full in-house operation, joining Toyota Gazoo Racing, which operates its factory Hypercar effort out of Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe in Cologne, Germany as well as Peugeot Sport in France.

“It is an exciting time as we continue to build and develop our Ford Racing Hypercar program,” added Rushbrook.

“We are filling dozens of roles in our design and engineering departments and our engine program. We are speaking to top development engineers and technicians to staff our testing and race programs.

“We are bringing in the leading mechanics and skilled racing trades people from around the world.

“The best marketers and communications people will tell this story from within. And most satisfying of all, we will have the support of our global Ford family everywhere we race.

“Ford Racing rings true to the competitive blood that runs through the entirety of Ford Motor Company. It is a privilege to be racing as America’s race team. I invite you to be a part of it.

“After all, there is no one better to carry the Blue Oval into the highest level of international sports car racing than Ford Racing itself.”

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