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The SHELBY AMERICAN
Summer 2016 12
Ford beat Ferrari at LeMans in
1966 and fifty years later the Prancing
Horse of Maranello was bitch-slapped
again by the Blue Oval of Dearborn. It
was quite a historic feat, which, we’re
sure, will be written about for the rest
of the year by automotive writers
across this country. And probably
throughout the world.
The FIA World Endurance Cham-
pionship consists of nine events, each
at a track in a different country. The
series begins in April and runs
through November, with roughly one
race a month. LeMans is the third on
the schedule. There are four different
classes: LeMans Prototype 1 is the top
class, open to independent private
teams (unsupported by manufacturers
except for engines) either as hybrids
(with an energy recovery system) or
without the ERS); LeMans Prototype
2 (unsupported by manufacturers in
any way); LeMans Grand Touring En-
durance, production sports cars driven
by professional drivers (LMGTE-
PRO); and a second class (LMGTE-
AM) for production cars driven by
amateurs.
dropped out after 15 laps. Sixty cars
started the race but only 44 were run-
ning at the finish.
The four Ford GTs were entered
under the banner of Chip Ganassi
Racing, a mega-team that campaigns
cars in the IndyCar Series, NASCAR,
United SportsCar Championship
GrandAm road racing series and the
Global RallyCross Championship.
It’s no surprise that Ford tapped them
to race the new Ford GTs in the FIA
World Endurance Championship and
in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car
Championship.
Four Ford GTs competed in the
third class, LMGTE-PRO, and while
not winning overall (they were never
expected to), they finished 18th, 20th,
21st and 40th overall; first, third,
fourth and ninth in class. The top-fin-
ishing Ferrari in the pro class was in
the middle of the Fords, finishing 2nd.
Five other Ferraris, all in the amateur
class, finished 26th, 27th, 30th, 35th
and 44th. LeMans was also a Ford vs.
Corvette clash but not much of one.
The top finishing Corvettes were am-
ateur class entries; they were 37th and
39th overall. The only pro Corvette
Let Go of My
Ford GT fever has touched almost
everyone as the 24 Hours of LeMans
approached. Lego master builder Pas-
cal Lenhard constructed a pair of Ford
GTs in 1:3 scale from 40,000 Legos.
Both cars went on display at the Sarth circuit during the week of the event
and were accurate right down to the badges, stickers and graphics which were
also made out of Lego bricks.