Ford's Return to GT Racing - Page 2

Christian Mogami · 3 Jun 2014, 15:31 (Ref:3414817)

Cotton and Hindy just posted that Ford GTE is dead.

But Ford PR has been very very busy giving a spin to the story.

And they are doing a good job!

ttdriver2009 · 3 Jun 2014, 15:42 (Ref:3414825)

Maybe the Ecoboost 4 cylinder engine from the Mustang in an LMP1 car with hybrid power, Ford GT inspired looks and painted in Gulf colours.

Mal · 3 Jun 2014, 15:49 (Ref:3414831)

Of course 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the first victory of the GT40.

Dreamers speculation alert!.... maybe Ferrari and Ford will announce together that they are going to return to battle at Le Mans!!!!

Articus · 3 Jun 2014, 15:54 (Ref:3414832)

The easiest route to WEC for Ford is an ecoboost P2 engine.

Deleted · 3 Jun 2014, 16:06 (Ref:3414834)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

The easiest route to WEC for Ford is an ecoboost P2 engine.

It's also the easiest route to make people not to care.

Articus · 3 Jun 2014, 16:34 (Ref:3414842)

Well to people like you and me atleast. They did the same thing in Tudor with the Ford Riley's. And milked the you know what out of it.

Nissan certainly didn't have any issue and from a marketing standpoint, making a P2 mill worked for them (I could care less) but the Nissan P2 motor is ubiquitous.

**joeb** · 3 Jun 2014, 18:17 (Ref:3414879)

Read into this what you will, but "Ford sticking with with factory teams in 2015"

Lagunaseca_4life · 3 Jun 2014, 20:04 (Ref:3414939)

Off topic....

Any one else ever read “go like hell” ?

It's a great book, I read it every year in the month leading up to Le Mans.lots of great insight into Ford,Ferrari,and Le Mans.

I thought there was supposed to be a movie in the works abased on the book.havent heard anything lately so I guess maybe not.....

deggis · 3 Jun 2014, 20:11 (Ref:3414946)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lagunaseca_4life

I thought there was supposed to be a movie in the works abased on the book.havent heard anything lately so I guess maybe not.....

"development on the project may have slowed, according to sources."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hea...osinski-701426
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...cruises-666348

Dyson Mazda · 14 Jul 2014, 19:20 (Ref:3433901)

Quote:

The easiest route to WEC for Ford is an ecoboost P2 engine.

Quote:

Of course 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the first victory of the GT40.

Sounds like these might BOTH be in play. I wonder if they could attract Roger Penske or Jack Roush back to IMSA to run the GTE program in 2016. You would expect Chip Ganassi to develop the P2 engine if that does happen.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/f...otype-options/

Rcz · 14 Jul 2014, 20:56 (Ref:3433937)

A Ford GT!

With a V6 EcoBoost.....

Articus · 14 Jul 2014, 22:44 (Ref:3433955)

As an american Halo car I would think they might try to do a ecoboosted V8 with cylinder deactivation. The Vette has a DFI V8 and the Viper has a V10.

Starfish Primer · 14 Jul 2014, 23:00 (Ref:3433960)

Good news, let´s see if we can keep all the manufacturers in GTE + Ford, it can be an great battle. I don´t really care if the Ford is a Mustang, a GT or a Fiesta diesel.

Also another manufacturer means less Am teams.

**joeb** · 15 Jul 2014, 01:32 (Ref:3433986)

strange that this is the first time i've heard of a new ford gt in the works since 2012. great if it happens.....

Mal · 15 Jul 2014, 07:28 (Ref:3434026)

Surely if Ford are truly thinking of returning to Le Mans - they would want to go for overall victory?

A GTE programme would be mainly for TUSCC to race GM and Dodge and Lm would be a spin off maybe with privateer teams.

I have not heard any significant rumours of a 3rd generation GT in the pipeline.

Rodger Davies · 15 Jul 2014, 08:30 (Ref:3434041)

Devil's advocating here, but why would they want to spend the vast sums that Audi and Porsche are in P1 when they can't even race the car in their own market? Especially if it's being funded from North America and not Europe.

At the moment, P2 and GTE make a lot more sense; you're not going to able to race that expensive P1 at Long Beach, Daytona or Detroit.

Deleted · 15 Jul 2014, 10:36 (Ref:3434067)

Then again if Ford was in LMP1, the probability of having larger LMP1 presence in North America (even in the form of just extra WEC races) would be higher.

But yes in essence you're quite right.

Sorta same reasoning why Corvette doesn'ty care of WEC. Okay smaller budgets in question but still

Rodger Davies · 15 Jul 2014, 10:45 (Ref:3434071)

There was a great picture of Mosport that explained to me perfectly what the Corvette programme gets from the GT programme, which was one of the C7Rs going past a field of Corvette road cars. The important part being that they were Corvettes, not Chevrolets.

It's a 'tribal' brand loyalty programme and does it very well. I wonder if Ford have any loyalist that they can invoke the same feelings within (genuine question as I don't know how Ford sits in the mind of North Americans)?

Accident · 15 Jul 2014, 12:18 (Ref:3434089)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

There was a great picture of Mosport that explained to me perfectly what the Corvette programme gets from the GT programme, which was one of the C7Rs going past a field of Corvette road cars. The important part being that they were Corvettes, not Chevrolets.

It's a 'tribal' brand loyalty programme and does it very well. I wonder if Ford have any loyalist that they can invoke the same feelings within (genuine question as I don't know how Ford sits in the mind of North Americans)?

Ford is pretty much the same as Chevy in terms of popularity and loyalty amongst fans, I think the real difference when it comes to the following the program would gain is that the "coolest" attainable car from Ford is the Mustang. If a new Ford GT follows the footsteps of the old one and is $150k+ and has a limited production run while Corvettes can be had for just around $50k, you simply won't see the same kind of attendance from Ford GT owners.

It's harder to pull fans out in droves when there are only a few thousand people that own the car that is racing. Of course general Ford fans will still love the car, but I don't think they will be able to pull off the connection that Corvette program has managed to get with Corvette owners unless the new GT is just as attainable and sells well.

Mal · 15 Jul 2014, 12:41 (Ref:3434098)

Maybe there is an entirely new model on the way to sit in between the Mustang and the GT

**joeb** · 15 Jul 2014, 12:47 (Ref:3434103)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe there is an entirely new model on the way to sit in between the Mustang and the GT

Could be, but Detroit isn't very good at keeping these types of things secrets. They tend to float artist renderings and drop hints on things to create buzz before the release of a new project. That is why I find the new Ford GT a bit hard to believe. There was talk about this in 2011-2012 but has gone dead since then. Maybe they kept working at it, but I doubt it.

Accident made a good point too, the only way Ford would create the same kind of Corvette buzz with a new car is to position it against the Corvette on the pricing ladder. Dodge has trouble selling Vipers because the Corvette can be had for less money and similar performance. Ford can't fall into that trap if they go that route.

MagVanisher · 15 Jul 2014, 13:38 (Ref:3434120)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

Maybe there is an entirely new model on the way to sit in between the Mustang and the GT

If that would happen, I think Ford will release the Cobra. However, the question is that will Carroll Shelby International and AC Cars allow Ford to bring the modern-day Cobra roadster to showroom.

Mal · 15 Jul 2014, 13:43 (Ref:3434123)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

If that would happen, I think Ford will release the Cobra. However, the question is that will Carroll Shelby International and AC Cars allow Ford to bring the modern-day Cobra roadster to showroom.

How would that be suitable as a modern day GTE?

1969MGCGTdriver · 15 Jul 2014, 15:34 (Ref:3434142)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

If that would happen, I think Ford will release the Cobra. However, the question is that will Carroll Shelby International and AC Cars allow Ford to bring the modern-day Cobra roadster to showroom.

Maybe it wouldn't be the roadster. What if it is the GR-1 coupe (you know, the modern interpretation of the Shelby Daytona Coupe)? I think that would be cool, but if they are going to try to get the masses interested then the GTE car has to be a Mustang. There is no other option.

Dyson Mazda · 15 Jul 2014, 16:07 (Ref:3434149)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1969MGCGTdriver

Maybe it wouldn't be the roadster. What if it is the GR-1 coupe (you know, the modern interpretation of the Shelby Daytona Coupe)? I think that would be cool, but if they are going to try to get the masses interested then the GTE car has to be a Mustang. There is no other option.

This is one of the best looking concepts Ford put out in the last decade.

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