When the Dearborn Giant revives it’s legendary
Sports Car for more racing duty around the Globe!
Although it’s a
fleeting memory now. Naturally one would say that these last, third generation of
Ford’s venerable Halo GT racecars, or that's how I denote 'em. Obviously
beginning with the legendous' GT40's of the 1960's have certainly Done “Job 1”
for the Ford Motor company by claiming many victories world-wide.
As I say “GeN-3” especially
since I still recall vacillating over obtaining an 1:18 scale AutoArt white No.
4 Ford GT Diecast racecar many years ago, modeled upon the 2005-06 version.
Which I think I refrained from, since Thar wasn't an actual racing version at
that point, as far as I can recollect…
Which of course I wishe
I’d purchased now, since I do have a 1:18 scale Maisto Ford GT90 Concept Car in
my cavernous Diecast collection! Even if it’s currently in a shoebox somewhere,
but I digress…
As fortunately I’ve
been able to witness countless Ford GT40’s, primarily Mk I’s in action at Pacific
Raceway in Kent, WA. Portland International Raceway, Laguna Seca and Sonoma at
various Vintage races. Where at the latter two California tracks, I’ve also
seen a few of the Nasty Mk II’s and the (J-Car) Mk IV’s in action! Along with
one fine Safir EngineeringMk V Ford GT40 model running the No. 17 being a fixture
at the SOVREN events in Warshington’.
Not to mention seeing the 1966 24 Heurs du Mans
winning No. 2 Ford GT Mk II on display at the IMS Museum upon my debutante trek
to Mother speedway for the 2001 United States Grand Prix…
As I say fortunately,
since this was Wayback’ when your Humble No Fenders Scribe Tomaso could still
actually See them! Since have I reminded Y’all that I’m Blind lately? And
hence, have never been able to see what the Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) Ford GT’s
looked like, but I’m getting ahead of myself!
Whilst I’ve only ever
seen a first generation (2005-06) Ford GT once some 15yrs ago at the Penske
Auto Group facility’s “Used Cars” lot! When making my annual visit to the
Penske Racing Museum with Blogmeister’ Miguel.
And it was a Bad Arse
looking Supercar! Looking like a Killer Bee resplendent in bright yellow with
the requisite, iconic twin Le Mans stripes in black!
Whilst I do still
fondly recall when the unheralded couple of David & Andrea Robertson took
their meagerly funded Privateer Doran built Ford GT-R Mk VII programme to
Circuit de la Sarthe and made history by becoming the first Married couple to
claim a Podium position at Le Mans. Bringing Thar No. 68 Ford GTR home third in
the LMGTE Am Class in thou 2011 24 Heurs du Mans race debut!
As the Robertson’s
shared their Roush Yates prepared 5.0-liter normally aspirated Ford GTR with
David Murry, finishing 26th overall. Ironically with Larber Competition sweeping
the classes top two podium steps.
As the No. 50 Larber
Corvette C6.R won the LMGTE AM Class overall, followed by the team’s No. 70
Porsche 997 GT3-RSR.
Since ironically twelve
years later, Larbre Competition won the final LMGTE Am category race at le Mans
with it’s Corvette C8.R, but I digress…
With the icing on the Robertson’s Cake being that
it was the couple's Wedding Anniversary that weekend, while Andrea became the
first Female to stand on the Podium at Le Mans since 1931, Aye Karumba!
Presumably, since the ACO dropped the GT1 Class
from Competizione beginning in 2011, with the then GT2 category being renamed
LM GTE. This became the reason why Thar were no Ford GT’s
contesting the 2012 24 Heurs du Mans, Say What?
Whilst sadly, Matech Concepts went out of
business at the beginning of 2011. With no idea where their (Matech
Competition) or the Marc VDS Racing Team’s Ford GT’s went?
Alas, FoMoCo' decided
to Celebrate it's glorious Ford GT 40's success, and “Cash-in” by returning to
racing with a Full-blown "Werks" effort with Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR)
running it’s four car Factory programme both near "N abroad.
With the ACO having
updated the LM GTE regulations for 2016, which nicely coincided with the 50th
anniversary of the first Ford GT40 victory at Le Mans. Ford built a new second generation
ford GT racing version, now powered by it’s new “Ecoboost” 3.5-liter twin turbo
V-6 lump’.
The new Ford GT made it's
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Debut at the 2016 Rolex 24 where it's
pair of CGR entries finished seventh and ninth in the GTE Le Mans class.
then beginning with that
year's round 4 at Monterey's Laguna Seca Raceway, Former IndyCar Driver Ryan
Briscoe and "Westie," aka Richard Westbrook gave the Ford GT it's Maiden
Win aboard the No. 67. As the pair would go on to notch a Hat trick 'O Victories
that season, i.e.; Laguna Seca, Watkins Glen and Mosport respectively.
Yet obviously the win
that garnered the most Attenzione that year was the Fairy-book Class Victory at
Le Mans in the World Endurance Championship's (WEC) LMGTE Pro Class on the 50th
Anniversary of Ford's Debutante Overall Victory at Circuit de la Sarthe!
As Ford and Ganassi had
come loaded for Bear’ with four Ford GT’s. With the #68 with Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller
and Le Mans native le Hamburgular', nee Sealmeister B', aka Sebastien Bourdais
scoring a very popular Class W' for the Ford GT's first outing at Le Mans since
the Robertson's triumph, finishing 18th Overall.
With the Seester’ IMSA
#69 with Briscoe, Westbrook and Scotty thee “Iceman 2.0” Dixon on it’s driver’s
roll finishing two places behind, and claiming third in the LMGTE Pro Class.
Giving Ford two teams upon the Class’s podium!
And directly behind
them was the Ford UK #66 entry, (21st Overall) with the other WEC Ford (#67) GT
finishing P40.
And Yeah, Y'all know it's Ah-comin', since why does All
this Robertson Hyperboly, especially regarding Andrea, albeit the couple well Deserves
It! But suddenly I've got 'Ol Simon & Garfunkle's Mrs. Robinson song stuck
in my head. Even if Y’all say robinson and I say Robertson, Ka Choo-choo-Choo,
Hya!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C1BCAgu2I8
And thus with the euphoria of winning at Le Mans. I’d Arse-sume the Ford UK No. 67 entry winning the following WEC rounds at Fuji and Shanghai was simply overlooked…
