Ford revs up the V8 in its hypercar and announces track testing for next month

The Hypercar with which Ford will return to the WEC in 2027 fired up its engine for the first time inside the chassis. The 5.4‑litre Coyote V8, naturally aspirated and developed entirely in Michigan, was started at the ORECA factory coupled to the category's hybrid system. Dan Sayers, programme director at Ford Racing, said that first fire‑up confirmed that the powertrain and chassis can work as a single unit. Track testing begins in August at several European circuits.

Photo By Ford

Ford handled the engine in‑house to maintain control over development and accelerate the technology transfer to its production vehicles. The naturally aspirated Coyote V8 places the prototype in a select group within the WEC, alongside the Cadillac V‑Series.R and the Aston Martin Valkyrie. ORECA developed the chassis, the same supplier that already works with Acura, Alpine and Genesis, but Ford ensures that the bodywork and visual identity will be its own.

The tests beginning in August will focus on reliability, hybrid system integration, aerodynamics and performance in conditions that simulate the demands of the championship and Le Mans. Drivers Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, Matt Campbell, Nick Yelloly and Tom Blomqvist will rotate through sessions in Europe and later in the United States. Sayers noted that simulator and dynamometer data provide a foundation, but real references will only come when the drivers start turning laps and sharing their feedback.

Photo By Ford

To reach this point with the structure already running, Ford followed a path similar to Genesis. Priaulx and Rockenfeller are competing this year in the European Le Mans Series in an LMP2 to train the engineers and mechanics who will form the Hypercar team. Sargeant is competing in the 2026 WEC in LMGT3 with Proton Competition.