Ford wants to win the 24 Hours Of Le Mans again. But that will be just part of the story that unfolds as Ford enters the top Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the 2027 season. We’ve known for a while that the gas engine for Ford’s hybrid entry would be based on the architecture already used in Ford’s Dark Horse R, GT4 and GT3 racing programs. But now we’ve heard the new 5.4-liter V8 rumble and snarl in a short social media video dropped by Ford on July 4.
A Milestone Moment For Ford Racing
Ford
Ford has been secretive about its development, and all we know about the powertrain is that it’s a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter Coyote V8 and the product of Ford Motorsport and Red Bull Ford Powertrains, a partnership that came together to power Red Bull Racing through the complex new rules in Formula 1. We get an aural treat of that partnership through the Instagram post shared below.
The car will likely be based on the proven Oreca 07-Gibson chassis, and Ford partner Proton Motorsport will likely be highly involved in supporting the team. Proton Motorsport has been a big factor in Ford’s Mustang racing programs. However, it wasn’t long ago that Ford expressed it was happy enough racing Mustangs in the GTD class while entering Formula 1 at a technical level.
Keeping A Lot Under Wraps
Ford Coyote V8 engineFord
In the short video, the car is draped in black cloth, showing very little apart from a particularly sharp and low front end and the pronounced wheel arches and narrow body of modern Hypercar class cars. Aerodynamics will be another key component of the Ford race car’s development leading up to its first race, so we’re not going to draw any conclusions there.
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Track testing will begin at European circuits in August, so we’ll likely see the overall shape lightly disguised with Ford’s blue and white camouflage livery in spy shots in the summer. Not only will Ford’s team be looking to get the grip and handling into shape, but it will also refine the power plant to endure that punishing 24-hour ordeal it will have to make it through without failing.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
There’s a whole long narrative about Ford’s involvement in the WEC as well as the most celebrated race in the series – the 24 Hours Of Le Mans. But right now, the Ford team is focusing on the coming season, as it has only just announced the drivers leading the Hypercar program. Sebastian Priaulx and Mike Rockenfeller are current Ford GT3 drivers, while Logan Sargeant brings the experience of already being a Le Mans victor, along with Formula 1 seasons under his belt.
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The WEC has got particularly hot over the past couple of years as new brands enter the fray to challenge the dominance of Toyota in the top tier after Audi then Porsche bowed out. Ferrari has already broken through by taking the 2025 World Manufacturers’ Championship, but Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Genesis, McLaren, and Peugeot are all in the mix and looking to stamp their names in the history books. Currently, Toyota is leading the 2026 WEC, followed by BMW, then Ferrari.
