autoevolution
 

Ford GT Racecar Strips Naked for Testing, Looks Sexy as Hell

Ever since we met the 2017 Ford GT on the Detroit floor back in January, we’ve enjoyed tons of footage and images of both the road car and its racing version. Nevertheless, the video Ford Performance just dropped in is the one that makes us feel the strongest connection to the original GT 40 that tough Ferrari a Le Mans lesson back in the 60s.
Ford GT Racecar Strips Naked 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
That’s because the clip gives us the opportunity to see the racecar stripped of its bodywork. Back in the day, aerodynamics weren't nearly as important as they are today - remember Enzo’s “Aerodynamics are for those who can’t build engines” line? And seeing the vehicle being tested naked makes us dream of that GT 40.

Nevertheless, the Blue Oval stresses the fact that the new-age GT racecar was built around its aerodynamics. The concept isn’t difficult to grasp - once the downforce and aero efficiency calculations were made, the powertrain, as well as the other tech sides of the car, were designed to support this.

Speaking of the power, the Ford GT racecar is motivated by the V6 EcoBoost Ford has been running in the TUDOR series. Both Ford VP Raj Nadir and Dave Pericak, the man leading the Ford Performance attack, explain the company’s ambitions for their machine in the video.

We’ll remind you Ford has announced the 2016 competitional schedule for the GT racer, with the machine set to take part in both the United SportsCar Championship as well as the World Endurance Championship.

We’re talking about a four-car offensive, with the racers set to be manhandled by a works team run by Ford’s current partner Chip Ganassi Racing and businessman Felix Sabates.

2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship schedule

Jan 30/31: Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.**
Mar 19: Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, Fla.**
Apr 16: Long Beach Street Circuit, Long Beach, Calif. (WeatherTech Championship
Prototype (P), Prototype Challenge (PC) and GT Le Mans (GTLM) only)
May 1: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Monterey, Calif.
June 4: Belle Isle Park, Detroit, Mich. (P, PC and GT Daytona (GTD) only)
July 3: Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.**
July 10: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
July 23: Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn. (PC, GTLM and GTD only)
Aug. 7: Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.
Aug. 21: Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Va. (GTLM and GTD only)
Sept. 17: Circuit of The Americas, Austin, Texas
Oct. 1: Road Atlanta, Braselton, Ga.**

* Subject to validation by the FIA World Motor Sport Council
** Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup events

2016 World Endurance Championship schedule

March 25/6: The Prologue, Circuit Paul Ricard, France
April 17: 6 Hours of Silverstone, Great Britain
May 7: WEC 6 Hours of Spa, Belgium
June 5: 24 Hours of Le Mans Test Day
June 18/19: 24 Hours of Le Mans, France
July 24: 6 Hours of Nürburgring, Germany
Sept. 4: 6 Hours of Mexico City, Mexico (TBC)
Sept. 17: 6 Hours of Circuit of the Americas (Lone Star Le Mans), U.S.
Oct. 16: 6 Hours of Fuji, Japan
Nov. 6: 6 Hours of Shanghai, China
Nov. 19: 6 Hours of Bahrain, Bahrain

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories