Ford Motor Company has revealed two of its key building blocks for its boldest endurance racing initiative in decades. The Dearborn icon confirmed its long-awaited return to the top tier of international sports car racing in 2027, and has now unveiled two essential components of its upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar effort: a technical partnership with renowned French chassis constructor ORECA, and the appointment of motorsports veteran Dan Sayers to lead the program.
In an announcement made on Friday at Le Mans, at the largest gathering of racing Mustangs ever assembled at the Circuit de la Sarthe for two Invitational Challenge support races in which he’s competing, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley delivered his announcement with conviction: The goal is clear, Ford is coming back to win Le Mans.
“Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us, including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,” said Farley. “To be able to partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are coming back to Le Mans to win, and we aren’t making that a secret.”
Ford’s rivalry at Le Mans with Ferrari is one of the most iconic in motorsports history. It began in the 1960s when Ford, spurned by a failed attempt to purchase Ferrari, launched an all-out assault on Le Mans. With the GT40, Ford toppled Ferrari’s dominance, famously going 1-2-3 in 1966 and winning four consecutive times through 1969. That era redefined American ambition in international motorsports, and was rekindled by the 2019 blockbuster racing movie Ford v Ferrari, which starred Matt Damon and Christian Bale.
The fact that Ferrari has won the past two editions of Le Mans might just have been the trigger to renew their epic rivalry, while its domestic nemesis, General Motors, scored a front row lockout for this year’s running via its Cadillac brand on Thursday night.
“On Sunday, it will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium here,” added Farley. “That is long enough. In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did back in the 1960s.”
While Ford returned to the race in the GTE-Pro ranks in 2016 with class victory at Le Mans, and more recently with Mustang GT3 entries, this new Hypercar project re-establishes the brand’s intent to once again fight for outright victory once more. As the selected chassis partner, ORECA brings a competitive track record to the effort.
Founded by Hugues de Chaunac in 1973, the French engineering powerhouse has amassed nearly 240 wins in LMP2 competition, including 10 straight Le Mans victories in the category. Their presence in Hypercar, already supporting multiple manufacturers, makes them a natural partner to produce a serious contender for the Blue Oval.
“We are honored that Ford has chosen ORECA to design the future WEC Hypercar for their return to the top tier of endurance racing,” said de Chaunac. “This strategic partnership is a key part of our ongoing commitment to the highest level of racing, and to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Steering the technical direction of the program will be Dan Sayers, a respected name in international motorsport with a career spanning Formula 1, WEC and World Rally Championship. Sayers joins Ford from Red Bull Ford Powertrains, where he played a key role in the development of the 2026-spec F1 hybrid power unit. He previously served as Technical Director at Aston Martin Racing, where he was instrumental in the design of the V12 Vantage and multiple Le Mans class victories.
“To lead Ford back to its spiritual home at Le Mans was a challenge I could not turn down,” said Sayers. “Having previously led Aston Martin to multiple Le Mans class victories, the opportunity to take overall honors with Ford is something very special.”
Steering the technical direction of the program will be Dan Sayers, a respected name in international motorsport with a career spanning Formula 1, WEC and World Rally Championship. Sayers joins Ford from Red Bull Ford Powertrains, where he played a key role in the development of the 2026-spec F1 hybrid power unit. He previously served as Technical Director at Aston Martin Racing, where he was instrumental in the design of the V12 Vantage and multiple Le Mans class victories.
His appointment underscores the program’s seriousness – Ford is clearly recruiting from the top shelf to ensure every component, from engineering to execution, is ready for the pressures of Le Mans.
Ford’s return in 2027 isn’t just a nostalgic play; it’s a strategic re-entry into the highest echelon of motorsport at a time when the Hypercar class is attracting an unprecedented level of manufacturer engagement. The convergence of luxury, heritage, and performance embodied by this program makes it especially compelling to collectors and motorsport devotees alike.
Source: Ford