07:54AM - 05.01.'16
|
News Source: autoblog.com
|
Ever since Ford unwrapped the new GT, racing fans have been wondering who would be given the privilege of driving the beast upon its return to Le Mans. Well, we can all stop wondering, as the Blue Oval and its partners at Chip Ganassi Racing revealed their lineup for the headline French endurance race and the entire 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship. Four skilled racing drivers will share driving duties in two Ford GTs in the top-level championship. One of the top names is that of Marino Franchitti, the younger brother of four-time IndyCar Series champion and three-time Indy 500 winner Dario. An accomplished driver in his own right, Marino won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2014 with Ganassi, marking Ford's first win there since 1969. Joining him will be endurance racing veteran Stefan Mücke. The German has taken three podium finishes at Le Mans and six WEC wins, all with Aston Martin. He's also competed in DTM, even fielding his own team (albeit with limited success). French pilot Olivier Pla will also be on hand. Pla is a seasoned expert in the LMP2 class, and drove the ill-fated Nissan GT-R LM Nismo at Le Mans last year. He also proved himself in lower-level formula racing, winning races in the pivotal GP2 series. Last but certainly not least is tin-top dominator Andy Priaulx, who won the European and World Touring Car Championships four years running. Priaulx recently parted ways with BMW after thirteen years together, and will be piloting a Ford EcoBoost prototype at Daytona this month also for Chip Ganassi. The announcement of this accomplished lineup follows the roster revealed over a month ago for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. If everything goes according to plan, the American lineup will join the European one at Le Mans for a four-car entry in the LM GTE class. Ford's return to the Circuit de La Sarthe half a century after its landmark win there in 1967. |
