Ford Racing will directly manage its 2027 Hypercar program.

Ford Racing announced that it will develop and operate its Hypercar program directly for 2027, breaking away from the predominant model where manufacturers delegate daily operations to private teams. This decision makes Ford an exception in the WEC, where Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, and Alpine entrust their programs to external structures.

Dan Sayers, currently at Red Bull Ford Powertrains, will lead the project, which aims to build a complete organization from scratch in less than two years. The program includes directly hiring engineers, technicians, mechanics, and marketing staff under Ford Racing.

"We are not looking outside our walls for someone to run a program for us; we are looking within Ford Racing to build our programs infused with our passion," stated Ford Racing in its official release.

Photo By Ford

Ford Plans to Control All Program Operations

The strategy is the opposite of the standard model in the WEC, where manufacturers prefer to delegate to reduce costs and risks. Ferrari uses AF Corse, Porsche works with Penske, Cadillac employs JOTA, BMW relies on WRT, and Alpine operates with Signatech. Ford itself used this model between 2016-2019, when it entrusted its Ford GT program to Chip Ganassi Racing for operations in IMSA and to Multimatic for the WEC.

Lamborghini worked with Iron Lynx for its SC63 program, but differences in communication and strategy led to the collaboration ending in late 2024. The Italian brand withdrew from the WEC to focus on IMSA. Isotta Fraschini also had disagreements with its operational partner Duqueine in 2024, leading to the suspension of its participation in the WEC with the Tipo 6 Competizione model.

Ford plans to handle all operations from within its own organization to react faster on track and apply the learnings to its road cars. The decision goes against the advantages of outsourcing: lower costs, fewer risks, and direct access to experts. "We are building a team culture that mirrors that of Ford Racing: passionate and driven by the need to be the best," explained Ford Racing in its statement.

Dan Sayers Leaves F1 to Lead Hypercar Program

Sayers will leave the development of the 2026 F1 power unit in the Red Bull-Ford alliance to focus exclusively on the Hypercar project. His experience includes a decade as Technical Director at Aston Martin Racing, where he oversaw the development of the V12 Vantage and multiple racing programs.

The British engineer also has experience in LMP1 and Dakar transmission design at Ricardo, in addition to WRC projects with various manufacturers, providing the necessary technical knowledge for direct operation.

ORECA Brings 240 LMP2 Victories and Three Operational Facilities

Despite the internal management, Ford will collaborate with ORECA and Venture Engineering as specialized technical partners, leveraging their combined experience of over 100 Le Mans participations. These firms will function as technical consultants, not as program operators.

ORECA brings 240 victories in LMP2, facilities in Signes, Magny-Cours, and Indianapolis, plus current experience with three Hypercar manufacturers. The French firm maintains simultaneous programs in the WEC, IMSA, and European regional series, but Ford will retain direct operational control over all decisions.

"With over 100 Le Mans participations between them, they form the perfect partners to assist Ford Racing in this new project. While we are incorporating these partners, we are proud that this is very clearly a Ford Racing effort," specified Ford Racing in the statement.

Photo By Carlos Castillo

Ford to Compete in LMDh as Eighth Confirmed Manufacturer for 2027

Ford will attempt its first overall victory at Le Mans since 1969, when it closed a streak of four consecutive GT40 victories between 1966-1969. During its WEC participation between 2016-2019 with the Ford GT, the brand had entrusted operational management to Ford Chip Ganassi Racing and Multimatic Motorsports Europe.

Ford and Ferrari will face off directly in the top category of Le Mans for the first time since the 1960s. Ferrari already competes in Hypercar with AF Corse, so both brands will revive their famous historical rivalry in the overall category.

The LMDh prototype will integrate a Ford Performance engine with the standard Bosch hybrid system as per regulations. Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, concluded the announcement: "Ford Racing sounds true to the competitive blood that runs through the entire Ford Motor Company. It is a privilege to race as the Race Team of the United States."

Ford will become the eighth manufacturer confirmed for the LMDh category, joining Porsche, Cadillac, BMW, Acura, Alpine, Genesis, and the current field of the World Endurance Championship.

Photo By Maxime Lantz