Franchitti Le Mans entry confirmed 05 | 02 | 2016

    SCOT MARINO FRANCHITTI will lead an assault by four Ford GTs on this year's Le Mans 24-Hours race in June. Ford's return to the world's most gruelling endurance race comes on the 50th anniversary of the manufacturer's first victory at the French event. Audi and Porsche are again expected to battle for overall LMP1 honours.

    Franchitti's entry was confirmed today when race organiser, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, published the 60-strong entry list for the 84th running of the 24 Hours.

    The four cars entered in the GTE Pro class will all compete at Le Mans under the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing banner.

    The cars have have been given the races numbers 66 through to 69 to recognition of the four consecutive years that Ford won at Le Mans with its Ford MkII, the MkIV and the GT40.

    The drivers listed for the two US-entered Fords are Franchitti (#66) and Frenchman Olivier Pla (#67), with the pair in the two World Endurance Championship (WEC) entries being run from premises near Silverstone are American Joey Hand (#68) and Aussie Ryan Briscoe (#69).

    Related: Franchitti — I'm ready for the green light

    "It's great to have our Le Mans entry confirmed," Franchitti, who will race his Ford GT for the first time in the opening round of the WEC at Silverstone in April, said.

    "Now I can't wait to get out on-track for the WEC opener at Silverstone, and really start our race build-up to Le Mans."

    The Ford GT racing car is based on the all-new Ford GT supercar, which is the pinnacle product of the Ford Performance division.  With state-of-the-art aerodynamics, lightweight carbon fibre construction and a powerful and efficient Ford EcoBoost engine, the Ford GT has been built to go head-to-head with the GT establishment — Ferrari, Corvette, Porsche and Aston Martin — as they fight for victory in the ultimate endurance battle.

    “I’m very happy that we can run all four Ford GTs at Le Mans,” Chip Ganassi, owner of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, said. “It will be a big challenge for us but one we are thrilled to undertake. We have prepared well and can't wait to get the Ford GTs onto the track there and show everyone what they can do.”

    The lead LMP1 class will again be a battle between Audi, last year's winners Porsche, and Toyota. Both German marques have scaled down their entries from three to two cars each.

    Audi will debut its all-new R18 Hybrid in the French classic, with the Swiss Marcel Fassler and Brazilian Lucas di Grassi named as drivers. It's expected Ollie Jarvis from Cambridge will also pilot one of the Audis.

    Related: New Ford Edge to cost from £29,995

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    Jim McGill

     

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