Ford Unveils New LMDh Hypercar with Mustang-Derived V8 to Chase Le Mans Title

Ford has officially unveiled its new program to compete in the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: a brand-new hypercar built to LMDh regulations, powered by a 5.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine derived from the Mustang GT3 race car, with its sights set squarely on winning the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship and the overall Le Mans title. The car is currently undergoing wind tunnel testing and is expected to make its track debut in the second half of this year. Featuring a rear-wheel-drive layout, the vehicle’s total system output is capped at 671 horsepower. Ford has partnered with French firm Oreca to co-develop the chassis. The company emphasized that this marks the first time its internal team has fully developed a V8 power unit, incorporating technical expertise gained from its Red Bull Formula 1 project. Three drivers—Sebastian Priaulx, Ryan Roycroft, and Jack Aitken—have already been confirmed for the program. Priaulx and Roycroft will begin competing in the 2024 European Le Mans Series to gain real-world validation ahead of the full WEC campaign. This move signifies Ford’s first genuine return to Le Mans’ premier category since the Group C era, reviving ambitions reminiscent of its legendary GT40’s four consecutive overall victories in the 1960s.