On Feb. 2, 2017 the Automobile Club del’Quest announced that the full squad of four Ford GT’s will compete at the 2017 Le Mans.
Seasoned drivers and newcomers will compete for Ford this year. Below are some driver comments:
PIPO DERANI #67 “I am delighted and proud to have been chosen to represent such a successful and respected manufacturer like Ford. To compete for a team like Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has been one of my aims since starting in racing and to be recognised and selected by them is a big deal for me. I especially want to thank George-Howard Chappell for his trust and belief in order to give me this opportunity. “The way that the Ford GT has performed in endurance racing over the last 12 months has been exceptional and I am very much looking forward to working with the team to try and bring more success in the FIA World Endurance Championship and to defend the Le Mans LM GTE Pro title.”
SÉBASTIEN BOURDAIS #68 “It’s exciting thinking about going back.But also a little stressful because everyone is going to be looking at us and saying, ‘Alright, you set the bar there and now you have to do it again.’ But, at the end of the day, that’s what racing is all about.You do something big, and then the challenge is to keep it there. “It’s great to be part of this programme.To be lucky enough to be in the GT on its return 50 years later, and then to have the scenario of Ford and Ferrari battling it out… it was such a privilege to be part of it and I will remember it for the rest of my life. “The historic meaning of the race was really what did it for me. To put my name there and to be associated with a programme that means so much to so many people is special. To be honest, to give to the Ford family what they had been chasing it for a little while, with their commitment and dedication and heart was meaningful. When the family arrived at Le Mans, the whole thing took a different spin for me. I could tell it was very personal to them. It was not simply another race or another racing programme. That’s what was very special about it for me. ”
HARRY TINCKNELL #67 “One of the special things about Le Mans is that because some of the circuit utilises public roads you can’t go and test there during the year. You just get that one shot, every summer. It’s the biggest endurance race in the world. Over 250,000 people come along and create an atmosphere like nothing I have experienced before. “The circuit itself is unbelievable. It’s high speed and it suits the Ford GT perfectly as the car was designed for Le Mans. We made history last year, on the 50th anniversary of the 1966 win. I’m in the #67 car and Ford won Le Mans in 1967 too so let’s hope we can make more history this year. I think we have a good chance this year. We (the WEC team) had only done two races before last year’s Le Mans but now we have a year of racing under our belts and we are a solid unit. We ended the 2016 season with a strong run of results and competing at Daytona last week means we are up and running early for the 2017 season. “We go to Le Mans with high expectations. It’ll be tough of course but I can’t wait. It’s the biggest race of the year!”
GOOD LUCK FORD!!!
Photo Credit: All photo’s herein is the property of Ford and was published by MyclassicNEWS with their permission and consent.
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