How Did Ford Win Lemans
![1966 Le Mans Gt 40 Crossing The Finish Line Ford Gt40 Le Mans](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bf/3b/8b/bf3b8bf9a38c5d60c4a42597736d7830.jpg)
Where ford executives were coy about whether or not they d go after the 50th anniversary win at lemans.
How did ford win lemans. It was a repeat of the american carmaker s triumph at the 12 hours of sebring three months earlier. It was fifty years ago that ford scored its first 24 hours of le mans victory bringing ferrari s dominance to an end with a conclusive 1 2 3 sweep. Ford s first two defeats at le mans in 1964 and 65 were overseen by another persnickety brit john pappy wyer shelby s former boss on aston martin s racing team but pappy did get. In 1966 ford was going for the overall win while in 2016.
Ford dominated the le mans 24 hours race in 1966 winning it for the first time and taking all the podium places with its updated mkii and stellar driver line up but instead of euphoria on the podium chris amon and bruce mclaren who were classified first were strangely subdued. The pride we all felt when the ford gt crossed the line at le mans is indescribable. Had a singular goal when it resurrected the gt race program in 2016. Henri pescarolo who went.
The pair had inherited victory from fellow ford driver ken miles in car no1 who had earlier pulled out a lead of. However two dramatic events eclipsed the sporting achievements in sebring that year. The overall winners of all events since 1923 are listed here. This is an historic moment for the ford motor company said bill ford executive chairman ford motor company.
Yes there was a difference. The 1966 24 hours of le mans was the 34th grand prix of endurance and took place on 18 and 19 june 1966. It was also the seventh round of the 1966 world sportscar championship season this was the first overall win at le mans for the ford gt40 as well as the first overall win for an american constructor. In the film s telling once it becomes clear ford will win ford executives including henry ford ii realize that having all of its cars finish at the same time would make an excellent pr stunt.
Win at le mans to honor the 50th anniversary of the company s legendary victory there over ferrari in 1966. It was also the debut le mans start for two significant drivers. Or is it too much of a storybook ending to ask for. The 24 hours of le mans 24 heures du mans is the world s oldest sports car endurance race and one of the most famous and influential in motorsports history.