The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has revealed that automotive giant Ford will debut in the series from 2027.
Confirmed:
- Ford will compete in the Hypercar category from the 2027 season
- No mention of plans to race in the IMSA SportsCar Championship
Context:
Ford will join Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Genesis, Peugeot, Porsche and Toyota at the top level of endurance racing when it joins the series in two years’ time. Ford achieved straight 24 Hours of Le Mans victories between 1966 and 1969 and will be looking to replicate this kind of form when it debuts in WEC.
This adds to Ford’s technical partnership with the Red Bull Formula One team from the start of the 2026 season, further cementing its return to top-level motorsport.
Comment:
“We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford,” said Bill Ford. “You can see it from what we’re doing on-road and off-road. When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans.
“It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again. I am thrilled that we’re going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and ‘go like hell!’”
Frédéric Lequien, chief executive of WEC, added: “Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades, and we are delighted that the company has chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest challenge.
“To have at least ten major automotive brands committed to the championship’s top-tier in 2027 is testament to FIA WEC’s stellar momentum and growth.”
Coming next:
The upcoming 2025 WEC season gets underway with the Qatar 1812km on 28th February.
Go deeper:
- WEC 2024 season review: Packed grids and strong attendances point to a promising future
- Soaring viewership, a global calendar, and blue-chip manufacturers: WEC’s CEO on the ‘golden era of endurance racing’
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