History was made on the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe as the No. 68 Ford GT driven by Sébastien Bourdais, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller crossed the finish line to claim victory in the LM GTE Pro category at 24 Hours of the Le Mans. Known globally as the world’s most famous endurance race and the ultimate test of man and machine, the No. 68 Ford GT ran 340 laps and was ahead of the rival Ferrari 488 GTE that had to settle for a second place finish. The No. 69 Ford GT of Ryan Briscoe, Scott Dixon and Richard Westbrook also joined the winners on the podium after scoring third place. The Nos. 66 and 67 Ford GTs finished in fourth and ninth places, respectively.
A slew of strategically planned pit stops and driver changes allowed the No. 68 Ford GT to maximize the car’s fuel mileage while maintaining a solid lead among the other competitors. The twin-turbo 3.6L Ford EcoBoost V6 engine, producing over 600 horsepower, ran flawlessly throughout the 24-hour race as Castrol® EDGE® oil provided the performance needed for the Ford GT’s vital internal engine components in the most torturous and competitive racing environment.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be able to make this happen,” said Bourdais. “There was so much effort, so much emotion, and to be the one that wins the trophy to give to the Ford family and everyone involved is very special. Everything aligned for us today – – the history, the Ferrari/Ford battle, 50 years on and the Ford family being here. To come out on top of all that is an amazing feeling.”
The 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans marked the 50th anniversary of Ford’s triumphant victory, when in 1966, the Ford GT40 race cars crossed the finish line in first, second and third place. In preparation for this year’s race, the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing stable brought four Ford GTs to compete for another remarkable and historic win on the hallowed grounds of Le Mans.
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