Ford has put an end to months of Team Penske Hypercar speculation by confirming that its FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar entry for 2027 will be managed solely by the company itself. Announced in a bold move, the American automotive leader revealed plans to assemble a dedicated team in the UK, taking full control of its return to top-tier endurance racing.
Ford’s Return: Building a Self-Managed Hypercar Program
After nearly six decades since its legendary triumphs at Le Mans, Ford is making a dramatic comeback to endurance racing, this time by setting up its Hypercar project entirely in-house. Rather than partnering with familiar names like Team Penske, Ford is forming a new, UK-based team that will independently handle every facet of the program. Critical technical input will come from French chassis specialists ORECA, renowned for their achievements in prototype racing.
Leadership is central to Ford’s strategy, and Dan Sayers, known for his former role at Red Bull Ford Powertrains, will head the Hypercar project, overseeing both technical innovation and race operations. To bolster the in-house expertise, the team will work closely with Venture Engineering—a consultancy recognized for its endurance racing experience—with access to both UK facilities and operations in Michigan and North Carolina.
Mark Rushbrook, Ford Racing’s Global Director, stated,
It’s an exciting time as we continue to build and develop our Ford Racing Hypercar programme. Competition runs through our veins and, as ‘America’s Race Team’, it seems only right that we carry the banner ourselves. Breaking from the traditional model of many manufacturers, Ford Racing will oversee and manage every aspect of our prototype racing project.
— Mark Rushbrook, Global Director
He continued,
We are not looking outside of our walls to find who can run a programme for us; we are looking within Ford Racing to build programmes infused with our passion. This gives us the ability to react more quickly on-track, enhancing our competitiveness. It also allows us to bring technology back to our road cars more effectively and efficiently than ever before,
— Mark Rushbrook, Global Director
This shift marks a major change from previous efforts, such as those with Multimatic Motorsports and Chip Ganassi Racing, where outside teams managed Ford’s projects. Now, every aspect—from car development to strategy and team culture—will be under Ford’s direct oversight.
Facing the Demands of a Self-Developed Program
Launching a full Hypercar campaign from scratch comes with significant ambition and urgency. Ford is embarking on an intensive recruitment drive, aiming to fill numerous roles in engineering, operations, and vehicle testing well before the 2027 season. Its timeline is tight: the first scheduled car shakedown should take place by summer 2026, meaning the company has less than two years to engineer the car and establish a competitive racing unit.
Rushbrook acknowledged the scale and speed required, with a candid assessment:
It doesn’t come without challenges, of course. In less than two years, we need to not only build the car itself but every part of the team, too – but we are building quickly and systematically,
— Mark Rushbrook, Global Director
Unlike rival endurance heavyweights Ferrari, Toyota, and Porsche—manufacturers that have relied on experienced partners to run Hypercar programs—Ford is choosing complete independence. This decision allows the company to shape its own team culture, pursue technical alignment with its brand, and rapidly adapt strategy as needed. Collaboration with ORECA and Venture Engineering brings additional expertise to the effort, yet all final decisions rest with Ford Racing.
Implications for Endurance Racing and Ford’s Future Path
Ford’s strategy has sparked widespread excitement within the motorsport community, both for its ambitious scope and for how it signals a shift in the manufacturer’s approach. With the end of Team Penske Hypercar speculation, Ford is making clear its commitment to competing at the very highest level, under its own name and on its own terms. This announcement sets up a direct, spirited competition with leading teams like Porsche, Ferrari, and Toyota as the company reestablishes itself in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
As Ford intensifies preparations for 2027, the eyes of the racing world will be on how the new, in-house team navigates the demanding development path ahead. Success could reshape the way factory Hypercar operations are managed in the future, reinforcing the American giant’s belief in its people and technology to power its international racing ambitions.
