50 years to the day following the '66 Le Mans 1-2-3, the No. 68 #FordGT has won the GTE Pro Class at #LeMans24 pic.twitter.com/jkMLuWlEYm
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) June 19, 2016
This year's 24 Hours of Le Mans race was held on the 50th anniversary of the day the Ford GT40 became the first American vehicle to win it in 1966. That historic victory came out of nowhere, shocking the world as the newcomers smashed through Ferrari's long-held winning streak.
Could Ford repeat that performance five decades later?
"We said we wanted to win but to actually do it is huge," said Joey Hand, one of the three drivers of the No. 68 Ford GT that took first place in the GTE Pro Class. "This team has come so far in a short space of time. They all worked hard, right through Christmas and New Year and gave us a race car that we can race hard. We drove like it was a sprint race for 24 hours. I've won a lot of races and this is a big one. I'm honored to be part of this program. I'm a red, white and blue guy so to be part of the Ford family, where they treat you like their own, is a great place to be."
In honor of the '66 GT40, the 2017 Ford GT will be available in a limited Heritage Edition, featuring race-number graphics and unique interior colors and appointments. Applications for the Ford GT are limited, so inquire at Ramey Ford Princeton, or try a thrilling-but-affordable model like the 325-horsepower Fusion Sport.