Ford Hypercar V8 starts

Ford Hypercar V8 starts

The countdown to Ford's return to the top class of the 24 Hours of Le Mans has begun, with the American manufacturer's Hypercar program taking a significant step forward. Ford Racing has revealed the soundtrack of its future Hypercar, giving endurance racing fans their first thrill ahead of the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A short video released by Ford Racing on July 4, 2026, shows the Hypercar, almost entirely hidden beneath a black cover, with the deep rumble of its naturally aspirated 5.4-litre V8 idling. The engine, based on the architecture used in the Dearborn manufacturer's Dark Horse R, GT4, and GT3 racing programs, is a key component of Ford's Hypercar project.

The choice of a naturally aspirated V8 engine is significant, as it will make Ford's new challenger only the third non-turbocharged car in the FIA WEC Hypercar field in 2027, alongside the Cadillac V-Series.R and Aston Martin Valkyrie. According to Dan Sayers, Ford Racing Hypercar Programme Manager, the naturally aspirated engine was chosen for its simplicity and reliability, which are essential for endurance racing.

Ford has also confirmed three drivers for its program: Sebastian Priaulx, Mike Rockenfeller, and Logan Sargeant. Priaulx and Rockenfeller are already members of the Ford family, having teamed up behind the wheel of the Multimatic Motorsports-run Mustang in IMSA's GTD Pro category in 2025. Sargeant, the most recent American to race in Formula 1, brings cutting-edge single-seater speed and technical feedback to the program.

The Hypercar, which will be designed and developed by teams in Detroit and Concord, North Carolina, will use a chassis designed and developed by Oreca. The car will be powered by the 5.4-litre V8 engine, which will be paired with a spec hybrid system.

Ford's return to the top flight of sports car racing in 2027 marks the company's first fully factory-developed and run program targeting an overall win since the GT40's era of dominance more than 60 years ago.

Tom Blomqvist, who will represent Ford in the World Endurance Championship's top class in 2027, believes his experience of the Oreca-based Acura prototype will help Ford "speed up the early development" of its Hypercar challenger.

Ford's Hypercar program is still in its early stages, but the company is confident that it can challenge for overall victory at Le Mans in 2027. With the Oreca chassis already selected, Red Bull Ford Powertrains assisting on hybrid integration, and the Coyote V8 set to fire up in combined testing soon, the countdown to Ford's hypercar debut has begun.

The first shakedown laps are planned for later in 2026, with the competitive bow coming at the 2027 Qatar season opener.