Ford GT 2017

[RickardEM]

Alla 4 tävlingsbilar kommer komma till start i årets Le Mans 24-timmarslopp, blir nog svårt att kunna slå förra årets succé men man får hålla tummarna den 17 juni.

\Rickard

[RickardEM]

Mer information från Ford om Le Mans 2017.

Fyra Ford GT deltar vid årets upplaga av Le Mans 24-timmarslopp

Ford återupprepade mirakelsegern i Le Mans från 1966 år 2016.

Det är nu klart att fyra Ford GT kommer ställa upp i Le Mans 24-timmarslopp – ett av världens mest utmanande race. Fords racingteam Ford Chip Ganassi Racing, som i år värvat talangfulle brasilianaren Felipe ”Pipo” Derani, hoppas nu kunna upprepa fjolårets seger.

Fords racingteam Ford Chip Ganassi Racing lyckades förra året med den sagolika bragden att vinna Le Mans 24-timmarslopp, exakt 50 år efter att Ford 1966 tog en trippelseger i loppet med Ford GT40.

– Förra året fanns det en stor press på teamet att ta hem förstaplatsen och leva upp till 1966 års fantastiska prestationer. Vi är otroligt stolta över att vi trots höga förväntningar tog hem segern. Nu är det dags igen, och vi kommer ha med oss ännu ett års erfarenhet av att köra Ford GT, säger Raj Nair, global produktchef på Ford.

Vinnarlaget intakt till 2017
I årets upplaga av racet kommer Ford GT nummer 67 köras av brasilianaren Luis Felipe ”Pipo” Derani och engelsmännen Harry Tincknell och Andy Priaulx. Nummer 68 körs av amerikanen Joey Hand, tyske Dirk Müller och fransmannen Sébastien Bourdais – som tillsammans kommer försöka försvara fjolårets förstaplats. GT nummer 66 körs av tyske Stefan Mücke, Oliver Pla från Frankrike och amerikanen Billy Johnson. I nummer 69 ser vi australiensaren Ryan Briscoe, engelsmannen Richard Westbrock och nyzeeländaren Scott Dixon.

– Det känns jättespännande att komma tillbaka i år igen. Men vi känner också pressen, när vi får kommentarer som ”okej, nu har ni satt ribban, låt oss se er återupprepa bragden i år”. Men det är ju egentligen just det racing handlar om, att göra något fantastiskt och sen försöka göra det gång på gång, säger Sébastien Bourdais.

Bakgrund till Le Mans 24-timmarslopp
Le Mans 24-timmarslopp genomförs som namnet antyder, under ett helt dygn. Racet genomförs på Circuit de la Sarthe utanför Le mans i Frankrike. Varje bil körs av totalt tre förare, vilket innebär att varje person deltar cirka åtta timmar. Det är dock inte ovanligt att förarna sitter bakom ratten hela tolv timmar i sträck.

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[RickardEM]

Även supersportbilar behöver klara av att köras genom stående vatten.



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[RickardEM]

En lite mer banorienterad GT!

Ford GT Competition Series Offers More Weight-Saving Innovations for Hardcore Track Enthusiasts

• Ford GT Competition Series, shown in Daytona for first time weeks after winning Rolex 24, offers weight-saving innovations, such as lightweight, race-inspired Perspex® acrylic engine hatch cover and bulkhead Gorilla Glass®
• Limited-edition Ford GT model features lightweight carbon fiber racing stripes, A-Pillars, andside mirrors;, unique engine hatch with integrated venting distinguishes rear view
• Interior of lightest Ford GT features Alcantara® suede with red accents and exposed carbon trim

DAYTONA, Fla., Feb. 23, 2017 – Ford is showing the ultra-lightweight Ford GT Competition Series for North America in Daytona, the site of its win at the Rolex 24 in January.

The Ford GT Competition Series was engineered to build on the car’s innovative lightweight and aerodynamic design. The track fans’ ultimate production car removes weight higher in the vehicle and shifts the center of gravity closer to the track for even better road-holding, and to maximize its 647 horsepower engine.

“The Ford GT has racing in its blood,” said Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president, global product development, and chief technical officer. “The Competition Series was developed with the most hardcore track enthusiasts in mind, providing a tailored set of lightweight features and unique livery to match.”

For example, the innovative lightweight, race-inspired Perspex® acrylic engine hatch cover with manual latch and carbon fiber prop rod reduces weight near the roof and shifts the balance of weight lower in the car.

Similarly, the bulkhead Gorilla Glass® behind the driver is about half as thick – and lighter – as on other models.

All performance features from the standard production car remain, including the FIA-certified steel roll cage and active aerodynamic system. Items not essential to performance – including air conditioning, radio and speakers, stowage bins and cupholders – are eliminated.

Weight-reducing optional equipment – such as performance-enhancing carbon fiber wheels, and titanium lug nuts and exhaust – are standard on the Competition Series.

Copious carbon
The Competition Series also looks the part with unique gloss carbon fiber stripe, mirror caps and A-pillars, as well as exposed carbon fiber lower body trim in matching gloss finish.

Inside, the Competition Series maintains the lightweight interior and keeps the same driver-centric elements of other models, including the F1-styled steering wheel with key functional controls. Ebony Alcantara® suede is used on the seats, instrument panel and headliner.

Exposed carbon fiber accentuates the console, registers and door sills. Anodized red paddle shifters and instrument panel badge bring accent color to the cabin, while a unique center console plate and steering wheel fascia account for the deleted infotainment controls and screen.

The Competition Series is offered in six Ford GT colors – Shadow Black, Frozen White, Ingot Silver, Liquid Blue, Liquid Grey and Triple Yellow – and is available in North America for all announced production years.

The car will headline Ford’s large display – alongside its broader lineup – outside Turn One at the Daytona 500 this weekend.

Visit FordGT.com to view exterior and interior options or to configure your own Ford GT supercar.

[RickardEM]

Så lika men ändå inte...



\Rickard

[RickardEM]

Nu finns LEGO-modellerna av Ford GT ute i handeln.

Ford GT40 och nya Ford GT finns nu att köpa som LEGO

Ford GT40 och nya Ford GT i LEGO-miniatyrer.

Ford och LEGO förevigar segrarna i Le Mans 24-timmarslopp med hjälp av en ny LEGO-byggsats. Ikoniska Ford GT40 från 1966 och moderna Ford GT från 2016 i miniatyrformat finns nu att köpa i Sverige.

Ikoniska Ford GT40 vann Le Mans 24-timmarslopp 1966 och moderna Ford GT gjorde om bragden 2016. De båda bilmodellerna och tillbehör från det berömda Le Mans-loppet kommer nu till liv med hjälp av LEGO-bitar genom ett samarbete mellan Ford och LEGO.

– Många personer i vårt team har växt upp med Fords legendariska lopp och segrar vid Le Mans, exempelvis sensationen 1966. Därför var det extra roligt för oss att designa dessa bilar som LEGO. De här byggsatserna berättar om vår Le Mans-historia på ett perfekt vis, och kan förhoppningsvis inspirera framtida förare, ingenjörer och designers, säger Dave Pericak på Ford Performance.

– Det här var helt klart ett drömprojekt – med mycket press och förväntningar.
Ford GT40 är en av världens mest ikoniska racingbilar, för att inte tala om den moderna GT:n. LEGO-satsen är designad för barn så väl som för vuxna, och vi vet att autenticiteten är avgörande då bilarna kommer granskas noga av alla entusiaster, säger LEGO-designern Craig Callum.

De unika byggsatserna går nu att köpa i Sverige
LEGO-byggsatserna med 2016 års Ford GT och 1966 års Ford GT40 går nu att köpa i Sverige. Byggsatserna kostar cirka 400 kronor styck. Sedan tidigare finns Ford Mustang, Ford F 150 Raptor och en A-Ford Hot Rod som att köpa som LEGO-byggsatser.

Se LEGO-designern Craig Callum sätta ihop kitet på rekordtid:

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[RickardEM]

Det blev "bara" en 2:a plats som bäst vid Sebring 12-timmars tävling den 18:e mars.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Earns 17th Combined Podium with Second-Place Finish at 12 Hours of Sebring

• Ford Chip Ganassi Racing finished p2 with the No. 66 Ford GT after all three of its cars led laps during the race
• It was the 17th combined podium for Ford GT since its debut last year
• The No. 67 Ford GT was on track for a p3 finish until last-lap contact sent it off track

SEBRING, Fla., March 18, 2017 – The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs finished p2, p4 and p5 at the annual IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring, just missing a win after hours of leading the GTLM class.

The race caps off an incredible nine months of racing that brought hard-fought wins at both the Rolex 24 At Daytona (GTLM) and the Le Mans 24 Hours (GTE Pro), and the second place today.

The No. 66 Ford GT finished p2 thanks to a hard-charging Joey Hand, who hung in with the leader until the checkered flag. Hand combined with full-time co-driver Dirk Muller and Sebastien Bourdais, the third driver for the No. 66, to earn crucial points in the hunt for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship title and the team’s 17th combined podium since it debuted the Ford GT last year.

“It’s always frustrating to get second,” Hand said. “We got beat by a car that was just faster at night. It wasn’t from a lack of trying. I threw everything at it. At the risk of running my tires off I went for it and thought that I’d get by and head them off. When it’s all said and done, if we can’t win this race we want to be thinking about championships. I think it was a good day. You want to have that win to get the three and keep the streak alive. That would have been a fun thing. When it’s all said and done, we’ve won some big races over the last year. I can’t be too disappointed.

“I’m just happy...when I’m the last guy in the car, I try not to leave anything out there. No, ‘Man, I should have tried harder.’ I gave it all with everything I had. I think we did a good job trying to get what we could get.”

After hours of racing that featured all three Ford GTs at the front of the class, the No. 66 and No. 67 were p3 and p4 with 30 minutes to go and struggling, and it looked like the fairy tale day for the team that qualified p1 had truly come to an end. Then the p2 Porsche served a drive-through penalty for running over the air hose during a pit stop, and suddenly both Ford GTs were back in podium position.

“Things were pretty much under control for most of the day and we were in a great position,” Bourdais said. “Ultimately it ended up not being the result we wanted, but when the ‘Vette got in front we just couldn’t chase it down. When it came down to it, it just seemed they could turn it up a little bit more than we could and that was the difference. We’ll just keep working on the Ford GT and see if we can continue to improve for next time.”

The No. 67 team of Richard Westbrook, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon was on track to finish p3 until last-lap contact sent it off track. Westbrook, Briscoe and Dixon had already overcome the major setback of starting from the back of the field when the No. 67 wouldn’t start up to take its place at the front of the field as pole-sitter for the green flag. Instead, the p2 No. 66 Ford GT started from the front.

“To get spun out of the podium on the very last lap is pretty disappointing to be honest,” Briscoe said. “We had a great car all day and were really in the fight for it. It was just flat-out all 12 hours here at Sebring. We just missed having the winning balance today but we’ll hang in there and learn from this. It was a great team effort with all three cars this weekend. Thanks to everyone at Ford and the Ganassi team. The cars all ran flawlessly. I’m really proud of the effort everyone put in.”

Woes of a different kind dogged the No. 68 Ford GT. It struggled with a slow puncture in the right-front tire - the car’s second tire puncture of the day - in the closing minutes of the race and finished p5, a spot ahead of where it qualified. It was a disappointing finish for the team that’s made two trips to North America and now goes home to the United Kingdom to start its FIA World Endurance Championship season.

“We’re pleased to finish,” said George Howard-Chappell, team principal for the two-car FIA WEC half of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. “I think the team did a great job coming here and putting such a great effort out. We led the race for quite a bit of time and were just a bit unlucky with the two punctures. It’s just too much to come back from.”

The No. 68 car switches back to its regular No. 66 to begin the FIA WEC season at The Prologue, the official pre-season test for the series, at Monza next week, with the first race to follow at Silverstone in April.

“It was good (to see the race from the front of pack),” said Mücke, who closed out the race in the No. 68. “The car felt better and better as the weather cooled off in the afternoon, so I think the strategy we did from yesterday was good, for making a set-up for colder conditions.”

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[RickardEM]

Lite mer detaljerad information om dem olika körlägena.

Five Drive Modes Optimize Ford GT Performance for Every Condition from Racing to Rain to Straight-Line Speed

• All-new Ford GT comes equipped with five drive modes that enable the driver to quickly tune performance to almost any condition – from street to track to inclement weather
• Modes include Normal for everyday touring, Wet for driving in the elements, Sport for more spirited ventures, Track for racing and V-Max for maximum straight-line speed
• One simple turn of a dial quickly changes aerodynamic, engine, stability control and shift characteristics, as well as ride height and more of the Ford GT

DEARBORN, Mich., Mar. 28, 2017 – There once was a time when owning a supercar meant compromise. Undeniably, the thrills were real, but the effort required to operate many a high-performance machine could overwhelm. With the all-new Ford GT, there is no such tradeoff. Ford Performance engineers set out to ensure being behind the wheel of the 647 horsepower carbon fiber supercar is an absolute joy regardless of driving conditions.

Five modes enable Ford GT to attain ideal performance – whether on-road driving on a nice summer day, contending with rain and other elements, or aggressively pursuing its limits on a closed circuit. The drive modes include:

• Normal, for everyday driving
• Wet, for driving in the elements
• Sport, for more spirited ventures
• Track, for racing
• V-Max, for maximum straight-line speed

Ford Performance heard the criticism from drivers about just how difficult it could be to get the most out of their supercar. “We focused on simplifying the experience,” says Derek Bier, Ford GT manager. “Optimizing this car for just about any situation was critical, because ensuring owners always enjoy driving it was a top priority.”

Each mode is specially tuned for a unique driving environment. “Switching the setting changes electronic, mechanical and aerodynamic elements,” explains Nick Terzes, Ford GT engineering supervisor. Leveraging learnings from the Ford GT racing program, Ford Performance gave each mode a unique instrument cluster display, with elements prioritized to enhance the overall driving experience.

All of this means that with the simple turn of a knob on its F1-inspired steering wheel, the all-new supercar can switch nearly instantaneously from canyon-carving road machine to fully functioning race car tuned for maximum speed and downforce.

Ford GT also features an advanced, yet easy-to-use launch control system that provides optimal traction for the perfect launch every time. Designed for track use, it’s available in all modes except “Wet”. The system is activated through the steering wheel controls in the instrument panel menu and, when activated, a white “LC” appears in the cluster. At this point the driver holds down the brake with their left foot and fully depresses the gas with their right foot. When ready, the “LC” turns green and the driver lifts their left foot and the GT launches off, quickly hitting speed.

Normal mode
If you can think of a situation that constitutes everyday driving in a Ford GT, Normal mode provides it.

Ground clearance is 120 millimeters, while throttle and transmission calibrations are set for standard driving. Traction and stability control systems cannot be adjusted. The rear wing deploys automatically for aero assistance at 90 mph, returning to its stowed position at 81 mph. The wing still deploys as an airbrake if sensors detect aggressive braking.

In Normal and Wet modes, comfort suspension is available. Pressing the comfort button allows the driver to soften the car’s ride on bumpy roads by adjusting compression and rebound in the dampers – without compromising control.

Wet mode
For this setting, the Ford GT’s ride height and other systems remain in their default settings, with the exception of throttle control calibration.

For Wet mode, throttle control is adjusted to limit the induction of slipping and sliding - enabling greater stability when driving in potentially dangerous elements.

Sport mode
Activating Sport mode grants the driver a more responsive throttle calibration to further open up the car’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine and anti-lag system. Developed on the Le Mans-winning Ford GT race car, the anti-lag system keeps the turbo spinning to provide boost on demand.

For Sport mode, ground clearance remains 120 millimeters, but that’s about all that remains. There’s no longer a comfort feature available, while AdvanceTrac® stability and traction control become driver-adjustable allowing three additional settings.

Additional slip, yaw and oversteer are allowed so drivers can push harder and have more fun sliding the car around. “Driver-demand calibrations get more aggressive – where slight changes in throttle result in faster acceleration,” explains Terzes. “Gear changes are more rapid, while clutches disengage and engage very quickly for maximum acceleration.”

“Drivers can use Sport mode at the track and expect the car to perform very well with this setup.”

Track mode
While Sport mode can be used effectively for many racetracks – especially those that require a higher ride height – Track mode is absolutely hardcore and optimized strictly for race conditions.

With the transmission in park on pit road, a turn of the knob activates hydraulics that drop the ride height 50 millimeters. Spring rates increase, while damping goes to its firmest setting. The rear wing – complete with Gurney flap – deploys, and the aerodynamic openings in the front close for maximum downforce. All of this happens in under two seconds.

“This mode is for track use only,” says Terzes. “Even coming from Sport, control is significantly different – dramatically so. In this mode, every aspect of the car is optimized for track use.”

V-Max mode
Engineering-speak for “maximum velocity,” in V-Max mode, every setting is tuned to make the Ford GT go as fast as possible. Like Track mode, selecting V-Max requires the transmission be set in park. Ride height is the same as in Track mode, but all aero elements are stowed to minimize drag. Stability controls remain active to help ensure the car moves forward in a straight line.

“Ultimately, V-Max mode is designed with a single objective. For the GT to achieve its fastest possible straight-line speed. It works,” says Terzes.

Drive Modes Chart:
Wet
Use: Driving in wet conditions
Stability and Traction Control: Active, cannot be adjusted
Launch Control: Not Available
Ride Height and Suspension Damping: High with normal damping
Comfort Damping: Available
Transmission Calibration: Normal
Turbocharger Anti-lag: Inactive
Rear Wing: Active above 90 mph
Air Brake: Activates above 75 mph with moderate braking

Normal
Use: Normal driving in dry conditions
Stability and Traction Control: Active, cannot be adjusted
Launch Control: Available
Ride Height and Suspension Damping: High with normal damping
Comfort Damping: Available
Transmission Calibration: Normal
Turbocharger Anti-lag: Inactive
Rear Wing: Active above 90 mph
Air Brake: Activates above 75 mph with moderate braking

Sport
Use: Sport driving in dry conditions
Stability and Traction Control: Active, but can be adjusted
Launch Control: Available
Ride Height and Suspension Damping: High with sport damping
Comfort Damping: Not available
Transmission Calibration: Sport
Turbocharger Anti-lag: Active
Rear Wing: Active above 70 mph
Air Brake: Activates above 75 mph with moderate braking

Track
Use: Optimized settings for track use (not for street use)**
Stability and Traction Control: Active, but can be adjusted
Launch Control: Available
Ride Height and Suspension Damping: Low with track damping
Comfort Damping: Not available
Transmission Calibration: Sport
Turbocharger Anti-lag: Active
Rear Wing: Always deployed
Air Brake: Activates above 75 mph with moderate braking

V-Max
Use: Optimized settings for achieving maximum velocity (not for street use)**
Stability and Traction Control: Active, cannot be adjusted
Launch Control: Available
Ride Height and Suspension Damping: Low with track damping
Comfort Damping: Not available
Transmission Calibration: Sport
Turbocharger Anti-lag: Inactive
Rear Wing: Does not deploy
Air Brake: Activates above 75 mph with moderate braking

** Must be in park (P) to select this mode

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[RickardEM]

Ett tung kval resulterade ändå i ett riktigt bra resultat i slutändan för bil nummer 67 under IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship!
Bil nummer 66 var tyvärr med i ett par krascher men lyckades ändå kämpa sig kvar i loppet och slutade på en 8:e plats.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Defies Odds at Long Beach, Finishes p2 After Qualifying Last with No. 67 Ford GT

• No. 67 Ford GT team plays perfect one-stop strategy for p2 finish at Long Beach
• Drivers Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook expertly navigated caution-filled race, keeping No. 67 in one piece and positioned for a podium
• It is the sixth IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship podium for the duo since they teamed up at Ford Chip Ganassi Racing last year

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 8, 2017 – The No. 67 Ford GT team defied the odds at Long Beach, using a one-pit-stop strategy to perfection that put them on the second step of the podium after qualifying last at the BUBBA Burger Sports Car Grand Prix.

Drivers Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook expertly navigated through a caution-filled race, keeping the No. 67 in one piece and positioned for a podium, their sixth IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship podium together since pairing up at Ford Chip Ganassi Racing last season.

“It was a good, clean race for us,” Briscoe said. “We got a bit of good fortune at the beginning. A few cars went out in front of us, so that gave us a little bit of track position. We had a very nice pit stop with a driver change, then a really long stint on our Michelin tires. I think comparing to the other cars on my strategy, we were probably the best car when it came to consistency and performance at the end of the race. It was a crazy finish, with a stack-up at the hairpin. I think this will really shake up the points nicely for us on the No. 67 car. I think this gets us back in the hunt.”

Westbrook started p8 after an aggressive pursuit of extra tenths in qualifying put the rear of the No. 67 into the tire wall. Meanwhile, Joey Hand put the No. 66 Ford GT on the front row in p2. But at the green flag, Hand was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was collected by an accident in front of him that left him no room to avoid it, and caused significant damage to the front of the car. The No. 66 finished p8.

Meanwhile, Westbrook and Briscoe steadily worked their way around the packed street circuit, in pursuit of a podium. It was as much of a victory for the No. 67 crew, who’d already performed an engine change and repairs to the car after qualifying.

“Obviously, starting at the back gave us some options on strategy,” Westbrook said. “We really set the car up for the long run and it really paid dividends today. Had there not been so many yellows at the end, the result could’ve been even better. Ryan really spent a long time working on the fuel number. Thanks to everyone on the No. 67 team for holding patient and working hard. We’re back on the podium.”

The No. 66 was caught in not one, but two on-track incidents. In the second, driver Dirk Müller was spun into the wall in the hairpin turn, causing damage to the rear of the car. The No. 66 Ford GT had finished on the podium at the first two races of the year, winning at the Rolex 24 At Daytona and finishing second at the 12 Hours of Sebring.

The events of the day were not a surprise to Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Managing Director Mike Hull.

“The results were exactly what you expect on city streets,” Hull said. “On city streets, you always wait until the end to see who’s going to blink first. We had a great car today. Both Richard and Ryan did exactly what they knew to do to finish where they did today. I think it’s great for the team, great overall for the program.”

\Rickard

[RickardEM]

Nu är det dags för premiären för Ford GT i FIA World Endurance Championship också, man tävlar i klassen GTE Pro.

Nu drar racingsäsongen 2017 igång för Ford GT

Ford GT.

Fords racingteam Chip Ganassi drar i helgen igång säsongen 2017 med sina två Ford GT. Tävlingen på hemmaplan på Silverstone Circuit i Storbritannien inleder kampen om FIA World Endurance Championship inom klassen GTE Pro.

Ford Chip Ganassi har sin bas i Greatworth, bara några kilometer från Silverstone Circuit där helgens första GTE Pro-race går av stapeln. Tävlingen inleder striden om FIA World Endurance Championship. Nytt för 2017 är att GT-teamen nu även kämpar för världsmästerskapstiteln, vilket bland annat innebär att de tävlande får nöja sig med tre uppsättningar däck, istället för de fyra som gällt under tidigare säsonger.

– Vårt mål är självklart att vinna mästerskapet i år. Vi måste fokusera på att avsluta varje race, se till att utnyttja våra styrkor och plocka hem de poäng vi behöver för att kamma hem titeln i slutet av säsongen. Motivationen är på topp då vi faktiskt tävlar för att vinna ett världsmästerskap i år. Bilarna inom GTE Pro-klassen är väldigt likvärdiga, vilket säkert kommer leda till några riktigt heta kamper på banan under säsongen, säger Andy Priaulx från Storbritannien.

Samma team som ställer upp vid Le Mans
De Ford Chip Ganassi-förare som deltar under FIA World Endurance Championship är samma personer som kommer köra det prestigefyllda loppet vid Le Mans. Ford GT med nummer 66 kommer under säsongens tre första race köras av Billy Johnson från USA, Stefan Mücke från Tyskland och Olivier Pla från Frankrike. Nummer 67 kommer köras av Luis Felipe ”Pipo” Derani från Brasilien samt Andy Priaulx och Harry Thincknell från Storbritannien.

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[MrB]

Ford GT är tillbaka ........ Stefan Mücke ....släkt till Peter Mücke ??? Känd Capri åkare som Kört både Capri Mk1 med GAA Coswort & Capri Zakspeed Turbo

[RickardEM]

Ford GT är tillbaka ........ Stefan Mücke ....släkt till Peter Mücke ??? Känd Capri åkare som Kört både Capri Mk1 med GAA Coswort & Capri Zakspeed Turbo

Se där, verkar vara racing som gäller i den familjen.

\Rickard

[RickardEM]

En riktig kanonhelg för Ford GT-gänget på Silverstone.
Det började redan i kvalet där man var snabbast med bil #67 medans bil #66 placerade sig på en 4:e plats. I själva loppet så fick bil #67 problem med en punktering och en trilskande dörr vilket gjorde att man rasade ner på en 7:e plats, bil #66 övertog då ledningen och höll den fram till att en säkerhetsbil i slutet av loppet såg till att deras 30-sekunders lucka ner till 2:an försvann och man klarade inte av att försvara mot bilarna bakom. Bil #67 med en mästerlig körning av alla 3 förarna lyckades kamma hem vinsten trots alla problem!

Ford Wins First Race of the WEC Season

• #67 Ford GT of Andy Priaulx (GB), Harry Tincknell (GB) and Pipo Derani (BRA) converted pole position to victory in tough first race of the season
• Despite leading for a large part of the race the #66 Ford GT of Stefan Mücke (GER), Olivier Pla (FRA) and Billy Johnson (US) had to settle for fourth place.

SILVERSTONE, UK, April 16, 2017 – The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team has dealt the first blow in the battle for the 2017 FIA World Endurance Championship by taking victory at Silverstone. Briton Harry Tincknell was first past the chequered flag in the #67 Ford GT at the season opener, sealing the first win of the year. The sister #66 Ford GT was in contention for the win until a safety car period in the second half of the race switched the order. They fought back hard but the trio of Mücke, Pla and Johnson had to settle for fourth place at the flag.

“That was a fabulous way to start the season,” said WEC Team Principal, George Howard-Chappell. “To come out fighting like this, to take pole position and win the race with the #67 car is just amazing and much more than we expected. It was a shame for the #66. They were in with a shout before they got messed about a bit with the safety car. I’m not going to complain though as it has been a great kick off to our season. I’m really happy with the work we’ve done over the winter on fine-tuning the car and with the great support we’ve had from Michelin with the tyres.”

Andy Priaulx started the #67 Ford GT from pole position after a stylish performance in Saturday’s qualifying session. He held the lead at the start despite a strong challenge from a hard-charging Stefan Mücke.

The Ford GTs ran first and second during the opening laps before the #67 GT had to pit early with a technical issue. This put their strategy out of sync with the rest of the class so while the #66 Ford was in the lead the #67 was way down the field. A safety car later in the race completely turned this on its head and the #66 GT lost its 30-second lead and fell down the order.

“After the first stint we were looking down and out but we never gave up,” said Priaulx, alluding to a technical problem the #67 crew experienced in the opening part of the race. “In my second stint I kept my head down and pushed to the maximum. For sure the safety car helped us but you make your own luck in racing. Coming out when it did it reset our race.
It’s so good to be able to covert pole position to a win. We leave here leading the championship and we plan on keeping it that way.”

Pipo Derani, who was racing for the first time in GTE Pro today, drove the middle stint in the #67 Ford GT.

“It wasn't an easy race for me,” said Derani. “Everything is new so I had to learn a lot of things, including the tyre management, which on the GT is a little bit different than on a P2 car. It was a really good race and we didn’t expect to be here, especially after the beginning with the problem we had but the guys did a fantastic job, the team was phenomenal and we will enjoy our win.”

With two and half hours of the race remaining there was a Full Course Yellow when an LMP1 car had an accident so the team grabbed the opportunity to pit the #67 car and switch from Derani to Harry Tincknell.

“I was sitting in the office in truck having a chat with Andy when I heard “Harry, helmet on!” so I didn’t have much time to prepare!” said Tincknell. “I really enjoyed having such a long run and it was one of those times when it goes very quiet in the car and you really get into the zone. I was just nailing the laps one after the other and focusing on the chequered flag. To get the win at home, in front of family, friends and Ford employees is fantastic. I gave it absolutely everything I had today and I hope this sets us on the path to a championship win.”

TOUGH START FOR THE #66 FORD GT BUT THEY WILL BE BACK!
“The start of the race was actually really good for us,” explained Mücke. “We managed to go from fourth to first before Andy got through for the lead again and then ten laps later we were back into the lead. We had some vibrations in the car, which we will investigate. This affected our balance quite a bit but we still managed to stay in the lead even with that problem. Our pit stops were good and when I handed the car over to Billy (Johnson) after a double stint we were in a good position.

Johnson and then Pla after him drove strong double stints but the switch around under the safety car put paid to a podium finish for the #66 Ford GT today.

“It's a real shame,” said Mücke. “Of course it is great for the whole team to win at the start of the season but for us it’s hard to lead for so long then only finish fourth because of the safety car. It was out of our hands today and we will come back even stronger.”

\Rickard

[RickardEM]

En liten filmsnutt från helgens triumf!



\Rickard

[RickardEM]

En bra helg för GT gänget igen, en 3:e och 4:e plats på Spa-Franchorchamps får anses som lyckat.

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Takes Podium Finish at Spa

• #66 Ford GT finishes the WEC 6 Hours of Spa on the podium in third place
• #67 Ford recovers from an early race issue to take fourth place at the chequered flag

SPA, Belgium, May 6, 2017 – The GTE Pro cars came in two-by-two at the legendary Spa-Franchorchamps circuit in Belgium today. This time it was Ferrari that took the win and second place, closely followed by two Ford GTs in third and fourth, then two Porsches and two Aston Martins.

It was the #66 Ford GT crew of Stefan Mücke (GER), Olivier Pla (FRA) and Billy Johnson (US) that stood on the podium after six hours of hard racing. After starting the race in second place they looked like strong contenders for the win with Pla enjoying a close fight with the sister Ford GT of Harry Tincknell (GB) and the two Ferraris in the opening stages. Johnson suffered at the hands of an LMP2 car that spun him around on his out lap and was later penalised for doing so and ultimately an unfortunately timed Full Course Yellow put paid to the #66 crew’s fight for the win.

“We had a really good fight with the Ferraris at the beginning of the race today,” said Pla. “Unfortunately I lost a position when I got stuck in traffic through Eau Rouge but there was nothing I could do. Because of this we decided to stay on the same set of tyres for the second half of my double stint, which wasn’t easy as the track was still very green. It wasn’t so bad in the end as we took third place, despite losing time with a Full Course Yellow, and we weren’t too far from the Ferraris.”

The charge of the #67 Ford GT was delayed by a fuel priming issue in the first pit stop. Tincknell pitted from second place but as he re-joined the race he found himself with no power on the run down to Eau Rouge. The team quickly identified a fuel priming issue, whereby the car has run so low on fuel it needs to be ‘primed’ before continuing in the race. After some swift instructions from his race engineer, Tincknell fixed the issue and was back on full power but at the back of the pack. After Tincknell started the fightback, Pipo Derani (BRA) jumped in, followed by Andy Priaulx (GB) who took the #67 Ford GT to the flag.

“When you look back I think it was a strong race for us,” said Derani. “We had an issue in the first pit stop, which put us all the way to the back of the pack but we had a great recovery. We finished on the lead lap, not too far behind the first three cars, which I think was a great team effort. For me personally it was good to get another GT race under my belt, to learn more about the tyres, the car and the team. I really enjoyed my double stint and now I can’t wait for Le Mans.

Today’s result means that the crew of the #67 Ford GT hold on to the lead in the Drivers’ World Championship, but Ford slips behind Ferrari so the fight for honours at Le Mans looks set to be even fiercer than in 2016.

Never a man to be happy with third place, Multimatic Vice-President Larry Holt summed up the thoughts of the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team after the race.

“I’m never happy if we don’t win,” said Holt. “In reality we had a problem with both cars. We had the fuel issue with the #67 at the first stop and unfortunately #66 was in the pits when the Full Course Yellow happened which probably cost us around 40 seconds. Without those two issues I think you would have seen two Fords and two Ferraris battling it out for the win.

“P1 and P4 at Silverstone and P3 and P4 here at Spa racks up the points and proves that we can be competitive with Ferrari going into Le Mans. Before we had our issues it was a great race so if you want to see another great Ford vs Ferrari battle at Le Mans it’s looking pretty good.”

The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours.

\Rickard