Autoweek Sources: GT return, Le Mans effort “confirmed”


dbk

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http://www.fordgtforum.com/homepage/?p=104

Today Autoweek magazine is out with a report “confirming” the return of the Ford GT, as well as a full factory-backed effort at Le Mans.

Autoweek claims that sources within the program have confirmed that the new car will indeed debut at the 2015 North American International Auto Show, with an announcement of a race program to come sometime soon thereafter. Multimatic Motorsports, longtime Ford collaborators based outside of Toronto, is supposedly tasked with the construction of the race car and Chip Ganassi Racing, current partners with Ford in their Daytona Prototype effort, are said to be taking the wheel for a full Tudor United Sports Car season, as well as the 2016 race at Le Mans.

The CGR information would seem to have some basis given that just yesterday Ford Ecoboost replaced TelMex as the primary sponsor for 2015 on the CGR Daytona Prototype entry. A 2015 Daytona Prototype season backed by Ford makes for an obvious prologue to a fully loaded Ford GT return to Le Mans in 2016. It is said that veteran racer and Le Mans Champion Scott Pruett will be behind the wheel along with newly minted CGR driver Joey Hand. Who might fill out the purported second-car lineup went unsaid.

Whether Autoweek’s sources are correct remains to be seen, but thankfully we won’t have to wait too much longer now to find out whether they are right.

Full Autoweek piece here:

http://autoweek.com/article/sports-cars/new-ford-gt-will-race-le-mans-chip-ganassi-2016
 

SteveA

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Well..... I don't see it but I do believe it.
 
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Vince H

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Getting very excited.

Vince H
 

Cobrar

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Well..... I don't see it but I do believe it.

Special glasses required for a short time longer.

Can't speak for Ford, but I believe the proper protocol is to receive an invitation from the sanctioning body before a formal announcement. But that is just conjecture on my part.
 

SteveA

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LOL ...... OK but at this point I'm taking bets.
 

twobjshelbys

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So if I read this they will use the Ganassi race team. Good choice. One unknown resolved.

Number two is they probably have the car and have for a while. To me it sounds like they will homologate the IMSA class car. It'll be interesting to see what the street version looks like. The race one doesn't have much room. If they do that then Multimac could be considered the manufacturer and would be placed in the small manufacturer bucket which would make homologation easier (selling 25 is a lot easier than 100). Would sales through the FRPP group like the CobraJets etc count for homologation? If so then they don't need to go through all of the NHTSA and EPA stuff too. It would make it a very quick process since the 50 or so of the FR500S and Cobrajets sold out in the first day or so.
 

GTdrummer

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On the one hand, I could probably find 1000 posts by DBK saying there will never be another GT. On the other, I bet Dave knows a LOT more than Autoweek about what's going down.
 

SteveA

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I don't recall any posts by Dave saying that there will never be another Gt but do recall from time to time him writing "there's nothing in the works". The last time was awhile ago.
 

BlackICE

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I guessing a front engine car with a TT V6 and independent rear suspension. Sounds like a super high priced Mustang with a new engine.
 

Cobrar

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On the one hand, I could probably find 1000 posts by DBK saying there will never be another GT. On the other, I bet Dave knows a LOT more than Autoweek about what's going down.

I wish I could figure out how to use the damn search function.

Been looking for an infamous post from DBK re: GT never being a collectible and/or values never exceeding $250K.

You win some, you lose some....but, yes, I'm sure Dave knows more than AutoWeek - hell, they just voted the GM Canyon Truck of the Year?? :wink

Calling Dr. Frank - Dr Frank......
 

dbk

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Been looking for an infamous post from DBK re: GT never being a collectible and/or values never exceeding $250K.

Hey, I want them to stay cheap. As long as they are cheap people use them! No fun sitting in bubbles. :biggrin

Allow Big Bang Theory to illustrate:

Sheldon: Look, it was actually designed for my vintage Mr. Spock action figure!
Penny: Oh, that's great, let's open it up and put him in there!
Sheldon: Oh, good lord, no!
Penny: Why? They're just toys.
Sheldon: Mint in box!
Penny: C'mon, can't we open one up and take a look?
Leonard: No! Once you open the box it loses its value.
Penny: Yeah, yeah, my mom gave me the same lecture about my virginity. I gotta tell you, it was a lot more fun taking it out and playing with it.
 

SteveA

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I wish I could figure out how to use the damn search function.

Been looking for an infamous post from DBK re: GT never being a collectible and/or values never exceeding $250K.

You win some, you lose some....but, yes, I'm sure Dave knows more than AutoWeek - hell, they just voted the GM Canyon Truck of the Year?? :wink

Calling Dr. Frank - Dr Frank......

Now THAT I recall!:lol
 

Kayvan

GT Owner
Jul 13, 2006
4,782
From everything listed seems like its a new "Ford Racercar" v. "New GT"

Might be like those funny-car dragsters that put a sticker of car on shell
 

twobjshelbys

GT Owner
Jul 26, 2010
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Hey, I want them to stay cheap. As long as they are cheap people use them! No fun sitting in bubbles. :biggrin

Allow Big Bang Theory to illustrate:

Sheldon: Look, it was actually designed for my vintage Mr. Spock action figure!
Penny: Oh, that's great, let's open it up and put him in there!
Sheldon: Oh, good lord, no!
Penny: Why? They're just toys.
Sheldon: Mint in box!
Penny: C'mon, can't we open one up and take a look?
Leonard: No! Once you open the box it loses its value.
Penny: Yeah, yeah, my mom gave me the same lecture about my virginity. I gotta tell you, it was a lot more fun taking it out and playing with it.

This is Pulitzer prize winning material!!! I'm having to wipe away the tears of laughter to see the keyboard.
 

roketman

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Hey, I want them to stay cheap. As long as they are cheap people use them! No fun sitting in bubbles. :biggrin

Allow Big Bang Theory to illustrate:

Sheldon: Look, it was actually designed for my vintage Mr. Spock action figure!
Penny: Oh, that's great, let's open it up and put him in there!
Sheldon: Oh, good lord, no!
Penny: Why? They're just toys.
Sheldon: Mint in box!
Penny: C'mon, can't we open one up and take a look?
Leonard: No! Once you open the box it loses its value.
Penny: Yeah, yeah, my mom gave me the same lecture about my virginity. I gotta tell you, it was a lot more fun taking it out and playing with it.

Some times you are really funny! This is one of those times!!!
 

Kingman

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AutoWeek is simply reporting on the new Vision Gran Turismo vehicle to compete against the Chevy Chaparral.


............:willy
 

ChipBeck

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Can't speak for Ford, but I believe the proper protocol is to receive an invitation from the sanctioning body before a formal announcement. But that is just conjecture on my part.

Gentlemen,

For you, me, or even a well funded (in the end not well enough) team like Matech the above is true. But for a major manufacturer like Ford or Porsche willing to fund a full factory effort an invitation from a sanctioning body is a given. Martin Bartek (RIP) told me that the honchos at LeMans dreamed about Ford Motor Company returning to LeMans but didn't think it would ever happen.

Chip
 

Indy GT

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Some times you are really funny! This is one of those times!!!

Absolutely classic DBK!

But Ron, this is just parroting the actual dialogue between the TV actors. No wonder why it is #1....
 

dbk

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Yeah, but who do you think approved the script???
 

roketman

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Yeah, but who do you think approved the script???
A couple of gay guys?