All Signs Point to a New Ford GT

[Specracer]

Continue to swirl....

http://blackflag.jalopnik.com/how-t...source=jalopnik_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

http://www.roadandtrack.com/racing/...ans-program-and-ford-gt-revival?src=soc_fcbks

All signs point to new Ford GT and 2016 return to Le Mans

This is a bigger deal than everyone expected.

Ford has yet to confirm or deny any of its future sports-car racing plans, yet some recent indicators could point to an intriguing direction from the manufacturer.

As we chronicled in July, a GTE-spec Mustang project was considered but then nixed, and a return to Le Mans with P2 engines was also on the table. Ford Racing boss Jamie Allison expressed a favorable opinion regarding a global and domestic P2 engine supply on Monday, and behind the scenes, a number of interesting developments have been progressing.

READ MORE: Ford planning Le Mans return

The other program that was being considered appears to now be in play, as multiple sources have reported Ford’s factory GT program for Le Mans is indeed accelerating towards a debut in 2016—the 50th anniversary of the brand’s victory at Le Mans with the Ford GT40 Mk II.


Ford
Recent meetings between GTE constructors on 2016 rules, as witnessed at Circuit of The Americas, have included a representative affiliated with Ford, and based on additional feedback, a launch of the Ford GT 24 Hours of Le Mans project would coincide with the introduction of the successor to the Ford GT, which ceased production in 2007.

You read that correctly: It seems Ford may have far bigger Le Mans plans than anyone realized, and those plans include a new Ford GT.

READ MORE: Why Ford should race the new Mustang at Le Mans

Allison was asked if a Ford GT LM24 project was indeed in the pipeline, and he offered the following response:

“Our focus right now is, obviously, finishing the season on a high note at Petit Le Mans,” he said. “Our focus is also working with our partners. I do look forward into a future of some of the classes in the sport, including the P2 we just talked about. We really have our near-term lenses on our participating in the sport and that’s really the scope that we are focused on.

“Anything beyond that would be strictly endeavoring into… just propagating something that is not within the scope of what we focus on. In our realm and in the world of sports-car racing, [we’re] really focused on our EcoBoost-powered DP and focusing on the season here as it comes to an exciting end at Petit Le Mans.”

Translation: "No way I'm providing anything remotely resembling a straight answer on that at this time."

Here's the thing, Allison could have just said, "No." But he didn't.

The last major question involves manufacturing and who'll run the program. Canada’s Multimatic is reportedly queued up to produce the GTE cars, and with strong ties between Ford, Chip Ganassi Racing, and Michael Shank Racing, the Blue Oval has excellent in-house options to spearhead the project.

As for the Earth-shaking probability that a new Ford GT production car is tied to all this, a likely time and place for the announcement of the grand plan would be the 2015 Detroit Auto Show. That's three months away. Things seem ready to get a LOT more interesting, folks.

 

[bonehead]

Even if it were true, it'll look nothing like ours, it'll have traction control, stability control, navi, and worst of all.....paddle shifters.:ack

 

[GTdrummer]

First hint: Dave bought a Lambo. It must be true

 

[Empty Pockets]

DBK in three...two...one...

 

[Silverbullitt]

I figured DBK would have crapped all over this by now

 

[shelbyelite]

First hint: Dave bought a Lambo. It must be true

:lol

 

[MCGT]

Wow, I would love to see Ford back at LeMans or any "GT" class racing on a competitive level in something other than a Mustang (no offense as they are great in the classes they run)!

I did not buy my car as an "investment" as some of the new owner crowd seems to be doing, I bought it because it reminded me why I fell in love with cars in the first place. That being said, I believe that a new GT would be a flappy paddle gearbox and as such would probably drive the price of the 05-06's even higher. The last iterations of the Porsche 997.2 GT3's have now risen quickly in value due to a 991 with paddles that feels somewhat disconnected. I hope I am right, but don't really care if I'm not.

 

[twobjshelbys]

I would love to see Ford with anything on the 50th anniversary 1-2-3 win, but there is something that just doesn't fit. The FGT was shown in public a full 2 years before it was available to the public. If a car is entered in the GT class does it not have to be homologated? If they were going to do a GT class car I would have expected an announcement by now. It would seem to me that if they don't show some kind of mock up/prototype at SEMA in November then this is and will remain a "rumor".

 

[GTdrummer]

I would love to see them do nothing and hoping this is a cruel joke. I am feeling like I did last April 15 when the new taxes kicked....

 

[ENZO BTR]

Ford really needs to stop F'ing up my retirement plans.

But seriously, if GM is prepping a mid-engine Corvette (and I've heard enough to think that's really going to happen), then Ford will have to at least consider a mid-engine response. As noted already, any new mid-engine car will have:
Traction and stability control
Likely no manual shift option
Possibly a small V8 (or even a V6) with a turbo

Translation, it would be a "GT" in name only, as the overall engineering philosophy will be very different from ours. They might not even call it a GT.

But I'd love to see them do something along these lines.

 

[Indy GT]

Continue to swirl....

Andy, very interesting reading! Thanks for sharing.

DBK in three...two...one...

EP, the lack of response might mean 1) there is little truth to the rumor and a response is just not justified, 2) DBK does not know about the thread because 3) Dave is busy preparing to throw us one great time out in Las Vegas which requires much attention and pulls his focus off the Forum (briefly…).:biggrin

 

[GKW05GT]

If true maybe Camilo can get a part time job to supplement his income if they can pry him away from GM.:lol

 

[GTdrummer]

I wish they would use a different body style--then they can do whatever thay want far as I'm concerned,

 

[BtwoG]

I wish they would use a different body style--then they can do whatever thay want far as I'm concerned,

Cant imagine they would make it look like the GT, which is the best looking car ever made. So I think my retirement plans are only partially fubar. In 10 years, it wont matter.

 

[Spirit]

I did not buy my car as an "investment" as some of the new owner crowd seems to be doing, I bought it because it reminded me why I fell in love with cars in the first place.

+1
In the 1960's I couldn't afford the $20,000+ price tag for a street version of the GT40, but in the 2000's I was able to fulfill the dream.
Dreams Are Not For Sale.
:cheers

 

[Ed Sims]

Not going to happen.

Ed

 

[Silverbullitt]

How about building the GR-1 and calling it that. Pricing might be sensitive, ask SRT how viper sales were going before the "discount"

 

[GKW05GT]

If true maybe Camilo can get a part time job to supplement his income if they can pry him away from GM

How about a Camilo and Darby collaboration!

 

[Specracer]

Bill, or maybe an alternative theory that he isn't addressing it because there might be truth to it....

EP, the lack of response might mean 1) there is little truth to the rumor and a response is just not justified, 2) DBK does not know about the thread because 3) Dave is busy preparing to throw us one great time out in Las Vegas which requires much attention and pulls his focus off the Forum (briefly…).:biggrin

 

[Xcentric]

It will be unveiled at Rally 10.

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