Franchitti leads Ford at Le Mans 05 | 01 | 2016
SCOT MARINO FRANCHITTI will lead Ford's return to sportscar racing when the Blue Oval badge contests the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship and Le Mans 24-Hours (see more photographs of Marino and the Ford GT).
Today's announcement, at the launch of the team’s European-based operations in Greathworth Park, near Silverstone in Northamptonshire, confirmed the Bathgate racer will partner Andy Priaulx, Stefan Mucke, Olivier Pla in the two new Ford GT cars.
The quartet will race in the GTE Pro class under the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing banner. The identities of the extra drivers for Le Mans have yet to be confirmed.
Ford's return to sportscar racing coincides with the 50th anniversary of its first overall win in at Le Mans in 1966.
For Franchitti (pictured right), who has previously raced at the world's most demanding and prestigious 24-Hours endurance race in France, the move signals a return to his GT racing roots.
And the announcement comes almost two years after the 37-year-old Scot delivered a barnstorming drive to clinch Ford's first win at the Twelve Hours of Sebring in 2014.
“From my first test in the Ford GT I fell in love with it and just wanted to drive it more and more,” Franchitti, brother of multiple IndyCar and Indy500 winner Dario, said.
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“It’s incredible to be part of Ford’s return to international GT racing and to go to Le Mans 50 years after Ford’s first win there will be extremely special.
"It's always exciting to be part of a new project, but for me to be driving for Ford in the WEC is just on another level.
“There's no question any motorsport fan will remember the iconic Ford GT40 cars of the past, and for me to be part of this program 50 years after Ford’s historic win at Le Mans is such a privilege.
“Le Mans is a very special race for every driver. It's the one we all want to win because it is such a difficult thing to do. We'll definitely be doing everything we can to win again in June."
And Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak emphasised the company was returning to racing with one aim: winning.
“Make no mistake, we are racing to win,” Pericak said. “To compete at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers, and we have selected Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino to drive the Ford GT to take on the best in the world.”
Guernsey driver Priaulx joins Ford following a 13-year stint with BMW, which saw him claim three consecutive FIA World Touring Car titles, victory in the Nurburgring 24, as well as wins in both the American and European Le Mans Series.
The 41-year-old will kick off his 2016 season later this month in one of Ganassi’s Ford EcoBoost-powered Riley DPs, prior to a focus on the nine-round WEC season.
Related: Ford confirms Le Mans return
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Jim McGill