Ford joins WEC Hypercar grid from 2027 with LMDh

Text & Images: Rick Kiewiet

Ford is set to make a return to the top class of endurance racing, confirming a full-factory LMDh entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2027. The American marque will compete for outright victories in the Hypercar category, reigniting one of motorsport’s most storied rivalries.

The announcement, made during the Ford Performance Season Launch event in Charlotte, North Carolina, signals the manufacturer’s first factory-backed top-class prototype effort at Le Mans since the early 1980s. This decision sees Ford join an already formidable Hypercar grid featuring Alpine, Aston Martin, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, Toyota, and Genesis.

Ford’s return to the overall fight at Le Mans revives memories of its historic GT40 triumphs in the 1960s, where it famously broke Ferrari’s dominance, claiming four consecutive wins from 1966 to 1969. The rivalry was renewed in 2016, when Ford stunned Ferrari once again, winning the GTE-Pro class on the 50th anniversary of its maiden victory.

Now, with the Hypercar project, Ford aims to add another chapter to its endurance racing legacy.

While technical details remain scarce, the LMDh machine is expected to feature a hybrid powertrain, conforming to regulations that allow participation in both WEC and IMSA. However, Ford has yet to confirm whether the program will extend to IMSA’s GTP class alongside its WEC effort.