See and Hear Ford’s First Le Mans Prototype in 60 Years Finally Hit the Track

When the 2027 World Endurance Championship kicks off in Qatar in March, Ford plans to be right there on the grid with a new prototype, carrying the legacy of the GT40 six decades since its triumphs. Earlier this month, the still-unnamed LMDh racer was testing at Paul Ricard in France, and Ford just released images of the session.

The machine uses a 5.4-liter V8 incorporating a block loosely based on the Coyote’s. It makes a suitably burbly tone you can sample below, and it’s bolted to an Oreca chassis. Genesis, Alpine, and Acura also use Oreca’s platform, and the last of those brands is set to exit IMSA at the end of the 2026 season.

As such, Tom Blomqvist and Nick Yelloly, two drivers who currently field the Acura ARX-06 in that championship, will be joining Ford’s WEC effort next year alongside Matt Campbell. Meanwhile, Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, and Sebastian Priaulx will compete in another entry.

The images seen here are from the car’s shakedown on August 5. Earlier today, Campbell and Sargeant were scheduled to drive.

Although LMDh-class cars tend to blend together from a design perspective, Ford’s contender appears to bear more similarity, stylistically speaking, to the Genesis than the Alpine or Acura, with its smoother bodywork and flatter nose. I’m picking up a little Porsche 963 along the front end, and the way the tail kicks up along the rear fender, just below the wing, almost seems like a nod to the Mustang. Also, note the subtle stripe and “FORD” in block lettering along the bottom edge of the profile, referencing the legendary GT40.

Will Ford’s return to Le Mans’ top class be as successful? If it is, it probably won’t happen immediately; it takes some time for teams to get up to speed in endurance racing, after all. Who knows what the future holds, though? At least we can be damn sure it’ll sound good—hear for yourself.

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