Ford to return to Le Mans with GT racer

"We're back," explains Bill Ford, executive chairman of the Ford Motor Company. "We're back at Le Mans."

Welcome, then, to the brand new Ford GT race car, set to make its competitive debut next year in both the TUDOR United SportsCar championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Which means it'll be racing at Le Mans, exactly 50 years after the original GT race car completed a 1-2-3 hat-trick finish in the top class at La Sarthe. We'll let that sink in for a moment, because this is incredibly Big News.

This one won't be competing in LMP1, though, but the GTE Pro class - that's the one for production-based racers.

The car itself, as expected, is based heavily on the Ford GT supercar, here packing an iteration of that new, 3.5-litre turbocharged EcoBoost engine co-developed by Roush Yates, and first seen in action in the TUDOR championship last year. We're told it's the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever.

TG gets an exclusive audience with the new Ford GT

There's a fine suite of aero bits, as you can see, developed to deliver better stability with less drag, and an advanced lightweight composite construction featuring heavy use of carbon fibre, making it lighter and stiffer.

Ford's also embracing the trend for 3D printing, with CEO Mark Field noting that certain components on this car - for example the intake - were created using the technology. Ambitious stuff from a car set to compete at one of the world's most grueling races.

Still, they've got a lot of talent on board to make sure the car runs smoothly. Confirmed partners include Chip Ganassi Racing - who'll run the two Ford teams - Multimatic Motorsports, Roush Yates Engines, Castrol, Michelin, Forza Motorsport, Sparco, Brembo and CGRFS.

And when it comes to Le Mans, the two teams will pair up and field a four-car effort, competing in the GTE Pro class currently dominated by Aston Martin, Ferrari and Porsche. So, no pressure then.

"This vehicle, really from the very beginning, was born to race," explains Bill Ford, speaking at the car's launch at this year's Le Mans 24 hour race. "I cannot wait for next year. To be back at Le Mans with this car and with our partners, couldn't be better..."