What's next for Ford Racing in terms of sports car racing?

furryboy96 · Apr 25, 2019

With Ford ending the Ford GT racing program this year, what's next for them in terms of sports car racing? Could the new Shelby replace the Ford GT? Will they race in a new class? Are they done with sports car racing? Or is it simply to early to tell?

dlshearon · Apr 25, 2019

They’re probably waiting on what the FiA agrees to on the LMP1 specs or if IMSA makes any changes to their top tier.

crooky369 · Apr 25, 2019

Electric pickup series.

Haven't they pretty much reduced all their lineup in the USA to trucks and SUVs?

dlshearon · Apr 25, 2019

crooky369
Electric pickup series.

Haven't they pretty much reduced all their lineup in the USA to trucks and SUVs?

Yep, everything but the Stang is gone.

TheHun99 · Apr 25, 2019

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/rushbrook-ford-could-go-either-way-in-dpi-explorations/

Seems like semi-works/private run of 4 Ford GTs (possibly by Multimatic in WEC and Chip Ganassi Racing in IMSA), Ben Keating has a GT and maybe DPi 2.0 or even current-gen DPi. They seem to think about Hypercar, too. I wouldn't mind them going with current-gen DPi as a precursor for the next-gen ones.

Kingofweasles · Apr 25, 2019

crooky369
Electric pickup series.

Haven't they pretty much reduced all their lineup in the USA to trucks and SUVs?

They have also invested something like $500 Million into the Rivian company, but that's a news item better off being talked about elsewhere.

As for Ford's future in Sportscar Racing... I honestly think that they'll withdraw works support of the GT's in GTLM, but then offer "Semi-Factory" offers to privateers from next year onwards. (Think Ben Keating's GTE-AM effort at Le Mans this year.)

TheHun99 · Apr 25, 2019

Kingofweasles
T
As for Ford's future in Sportscar Racing... I honestly think that they'll withdraw works support of the GT's in GTLM, but then offer "Semi-Factory" offers to privateers from next year onwards. (Think Ben Keating's GTE-AM effort at Le Mans this year.)

This is now actually confirmed.

furryboy96 · May 7, 2019

The Ford GT racing program is ending after 2019 but will continue as customer support. Does that mean that they will continue building cars for various race teams or will they only support the 4 existing Ford GTs?

TheElbows · May 7, 2019

I believe they recently recanted on ending the factory GT program though - or I'm mis-remembering. I know they were DPI bound for 2020, but I thought something changed a month or two ago.