[car engine revving]
[slow music playing]
[chat is not clear]
[interviewer] So, Edsel, where did this story begin?
That's the hardest question I've been asked.
[interviewer laughs]
I think this really started on October 10, 1901,
when Henry Ford won the car race
with a vehicle is called "Lottery."
This sets the path
for Ford Motor Company.
[Bill Ford] Ford was born at the racetrack
Really how we started as a company
and with my great grandfather,
and so, since then, we have run
GT40 Program is our first attempt
into European style street racing
against European cars.
We want to go racing in Europe to defeat Europeans
Especially Ferrari.
[Preston Lerner] In the early 60s,
Enzo Ferrari realizes he needs some company help
if he wants his company to continue to grow and if he wants to compete at the top level from motorsport
And at the same time, Ford Motor company realize they want to change their image
They want, sort of, leave it to younger buyers
and they think racing might be a good way to do that,
become an envoy from each company
sort of find another and they start negotiating.
Ford sends Don Frey high in hierarchy,
Negotiate with Enzo Ferrari.
Everything works fine for a while, and then they don't go so well,
and Ferrari leave Ford on the altar
Henry Ford II, who is running a company,
he is really upset
that he basically got fingers from Enzo Ferrari.
And that's when he told Don Frey,
"If we can't join him, we will defeat him."
At that time, the peak of street racing
around the world
will be Le Mans.
[Narrator TV] Le Mans is silent a little French community most of the year,
until June,
even though almost half a million racing fans
converts it to capital of racing motorcycles in the world.
[Jim Farley] It's about
as ambitious as You can get as an American company,
to go to Europe and race at Le Mans to defeat Ferrari,
who is dominant at that time,
Actually, just won for years in a row.
[narrator on TV] Ferrari from Italy
has won the race seven times out of the last eight
No American car has ever won.
[Edsel Ford] My father wants to beat Ferrari
and that doesn't work what difference does it cost
[Mose Nowland] He's really serious about winning races
We have all budgets, the facilities and materials we need
Whatever we think that we need is there
[Peter De Lorenzo] The first Ford GT is actually a modified Lola coupe
with the Ford racing body on it.
It is elegant, beautiful car.
The problem is, at a speed the air will be lifted the front wheel
They arrived at Le Mans in '64.
Phil Hill organizes the fastest lap from race,
but he said it could hardly be treated
I think the first car burned in the third hour or something.
That is a very large breast.
We did not win that first year, but we learned a lot.
[Peter] They returned in '65. It's a little better.
They appear in Daytona and have some success.
And then with '66, they are ready
[TV Narrator] Ford challenges last year with GT40 Mk. I.
Now they are here with Mk faster. II.
Henry Ford, his wife, and young man, Edsel,
arrived to see investment pay off.
[engine revving]
[news reporter] On the first lap, the track is wet from heavy rain.
However, Americans' aggressive strategies are clear from the start
Take instructions early, set the speed fast and punish, and last longer than the competition.
Throughout the day, overnight, all morning,
Ford GTs still leads.
And here they come to finish
First place, number two Ford GT.
Second place, number one Ford GT.
Third position, number five Ford GT.
Authoritative victory for American challengers
[Bill] the icon finishes one-two-three in Le Mans is, you know,
possible, from all beautiful moments,
that might be the decisive moment in the history of the Ford race.
[Justin Bell] My history in Le Mans, when I was a kid, started
When I was four months old, the first time I left.
Then, almost uninterrupted Until I was around 18 years old.
I've been three times three at Le Mans.
Um, I've run there 11 times.
This is my 36th time to Le Mans.
Um, so many of my lives have been spent there,
and lots of exposure to the big team
There is great excitement that the Ford GT is there.
There are fans there that will be remembered
cars in 1966
The sad part modern sports car racing
is that no one really left.
You feel that you do it for TV, not for many people.
Go to Le Mans, You feel like you are doing it for real people
For existing drivers has never been there before,
it must look like a zoo.
I am here at the driver's parade.
This is the tradition on Le Mans Friday.
And we are here for, uh,
traveling around the city
Fans have come out in their droves.
It could be 100,000 people only there
and we will drive for half an hour.
We have 8,000 bracelets and flags to throw at them.
This is an opportunity for them to see drivers closely
before the big race tomorrow.
This is a unique experience.
You feel like a little rock star because thousands of fans
scream your name, everything like that
This is an amazing experience.
[Sebastien] Here is I learned to drive
when I was 15 years old, and I know many people around here.
They see me growing from a new child
in the city trying to make it, You know, for, type,
an achievement race car driver
At least a professional who makes a living from his passion,
that's all I really can hope at first.
[unclear person chat]
[Richard Westbrook] Le Mans is Le Mans.
This is Super Bowl sports car racing
To return on the 50th birthday,
of course we will be happy to do it again
I think There is more competition this year,
if I am allowed to say that
There are more producers.
We have Aston, Ferrari, Porsche...
Corvette, us,
three other Ford races.
Competition has never been ever stronger,
especially in this category.
Whoever wins this year will really deserve it
[Mario Franchitti] I am someone who loves the history of this sport.
Ford won this race four times in a row between '66 and '69.
To come back with the new Ford GT
with four incredible cars very fun for everyone.
I am very excited to continue with that and get the race on Saturday
That's why is very important
What I become a sports car driver for is to race at Le Mans.
And I can't imagine what is like to be to win this [Raj Nair] So, you know what, I...
I'm not here really to give you the spirit to talk
You are all professionals.
And you know why we are here. You know what we have to do here.
But I think there are one thing I want remind you, maybe
You all might race in the event
it's more important to you,
But there is one thing that I guarantee.
You will never race again to as many people
as we played this weekend.
Ford competes a lot, you know that.
We won at Monaco Grand Prix.
We have won the Formula One championship. We have won the Indy 500.
Fifty years ago, we ran here,
we sweep the podium, and that means a lot,
because that means we take the world and we win
So, I will be completely unfair,
and remind you that unfortunately there is only one chance
celebrate 50th birthday
The only they ask us,
this weekend, is gone like hell
So, let's do that
[clapping]
I don't remember the time that I really fell in love with with motorbike racing
Strange because _ No one in my family was in the car.
Like, you know, it's not something my father introduced me
From a long time I remember,
it's something I've fallen in love with.
[Dave Pericak] This is really a baby Raj.
He really has the driving force behind this
and people who have vision for all this happens.
So, everything we do executes in his vision.
We always think about buildings one more Ford GT.
50th birthday of victory in '66 has arrived.
We feel we really have to do something to honor that victory
Raj and Mark come to me and say,
"We have something You will like it."
In the car business,
calculated dates and anniversaries calculated
We have a 50th anniversary Le Mans coming.
Why don't we do another GT?
[Peter] When you talk about Ford GT, That is a higher call in the company.
It is a living icon.
Fifty years later, they are still talking about it
They are still talking about that in France.
I mean, one thing is certain, when we decide to do GT,
A birthday party will happen,
50th birthday, one way or another, and the time continues to beat.
We have to prove it a lot for not only the world,
but even the people in our company, and we intend to do that.
[Raj] Rules on GT racing is this production-based racing car,
So, you must have a production car that you are building,
but we are still developing production cars,
So, we have agreement from all other producers
to allow us to race,
as long as we are sent the production car in the hands of customers
at the end of the year.
[revving]
The development of racing cars and the development of production cars almost start from the opposite end.
Race cars, We start from tires
and we optimize everything. Do you want it?
Production cars, we start from the driver
and then we do everything downstream with the driver to make it feel right
This is a lot of engineering to do simultaneously,
must go through all legal things You must go through
and durability of objects You have to go through for street cars
And then, think ahead about what is ideal on the track.
[classic peppy playing music]
[Peter] People are identified in company with expertise.
Machine,
suspension technology,
aerodynamics.
This is launched internally skunkworks in Ford.
That's really a secret project That is a decision in the team section to build it,
not so much as a special supercar,
but almost like a laboratory
for what is possible for the rest of the Ford line.
For me, it's very an interesting approach
But there are difficulties,
Because if you do that, can you really be competitive?
Can we really take an EcoBoost machine
and make it competitive racing engine?
[Dave Simon] This is a combination of from direct injection,
turbocharging, variable cam timing
So you can make a large amount of power
but you can get it really great fuel economy out of them too
which is actually an advantage, is enough profit for racing engines
[Dave Pericak] Who would think that we would put V6 machines in a supercar?
That is a bold statement, when we say we will do that
Carbon fiber, which he already has extraordinary applications in racing already,
to lose weight, to get strength.
Ford GT is almost entirely Carbon Fiber.
We learn a lot of from that,
and we are working with our partners to make it at a lower cost,
so we can expand the use of carbon fiber into other Ford lines.
We can use racing to push the boundaries
for everyday passenger cars who are on the entrance to people.
M1 first moves. This is really mobile,
it's very limited calibration
Raj, I have explained to you, it is only 3,000 RPM.
The shift will be delayed. This will be rough.
-This treats 3,000 as a redline? -This.
[low engine hum]
[Raj] You enter with all new cars and all new teams.
We are still learning the car, we are still developing the car.
Things will happen that we don't anticipate.
Whether it's tactics, is it endurance,
is it a technical problem,
what is that, do you have fast enough,
You don't know all of that until you exit on the track.
[revving]
[Raj] This is the most fun I've done it 20 miles per hour.
[all laughs]
Don't start eat without us
[employee] All pizzas are gone.
-What do you mean pizza is gone -There are pizza and subs.
We don't have cooling problems with this machine.
In fact, we have the opposite.
We have a problem keep the temperature inside When it's cold outside.
During teardown, we don't see other signs of sadness
The engine looks, actually, is very good for 20 hours.
We will say it pretty well that belief,
the machine will pass endurance test.
-So we have racing machines that are proven at 16? -Yes, we do
And Larry already started to swing it
We work with Larry Holt, dalang from Multimatic.
And multimatic brings to that skill that we don't have at Ford.
They are great drivers
and they know how to put it a race car together better than anyone
When it comes to road cars, and road cars,
I think, I think so
already exists a little learning curve on what is needed,
but again, we are partners in this matter
Start seeing a lot working underwing ahead,
where we found we are very strong but very sensitive
We try to move middle pressure on underwing,
so not sensitive to tone.
We like it very much,
but that doesn't pinge in front of your car, guys
But we will work with you on forms, and,
we only need gaping holes On the front of the car, if it's okay, Mort
[all laughs]
[Raj] Ford Motor Company can be a little conservative,
and then you have this crazy scientist to really push.
"What if we do that? What if we do this?"
And so this is circular crazy ideas and sanity
come with in a very large balance.
September 17, we have to be there with other people
with a representative machine,
basically so they can manage our BoP.
[all laughs]
Looks like we have So much time last year.
Ford went to Le Mans for the first time in 1964.
And that requires until their third year, '66, before they actually win it.
I want to enter a note here that historical word
It takes three years. We will leave this year,
first year, on 50th birthday, with very high expectations.
I am very confident that we have tools to do it,
but of course an idiot who is really arrogant
to sit here and say you will win Le Mans, because that's, uh,
This is a difficult race, and it can be very disgusting.
So when I first heard about this race program,
My first reaction is,
I mean, I'm 48, and I like, "So, so,
I mean, You want a Le Mans winner.
I am a Le Mans winner, I have to drive.
I'm still fit, I'm still fast. "
And literally, I enter that mode because...
How can I not? And...
Then everyone Talk me from that
But that's how it is a dynamic program,
and thinking about it is very exciting,
who doesn't want part of it? = So many applications come.
Together between us and Chip Ganassi,
we passed it the process and actually got cream from the harvest
[interviewer] How? all this racing start for you
[chuckles] That's a good question. I...
When I...
[clears throat]
When I might
three years or four years,
my father entered asphalt paving business
and he opened the go-kart route.
And they people don't pay it for some reason,
so we end with three go-karts.
If you only weigh about 80 kilograms, five horsepower is very much.
That's how my motorsports career start.
[Peter] Chip is an interesting person. He is a racer himself.
Driver. He drives an Indy car.
He is the second most successful _ racing team in the US,
after Roger Penske.
Chip Ganassi hires a crew,
he hired personnel, management.
Everyone to monitor that the program works.
This is very about the man and the machine,
and must optimize both succeed.
You can throw a lot of technologies in racing cars,
but at the end of the day, It's all about that man
or a woman sitting behind the wheel and driving a car.
[Chip] Edsel wants to hold a meeting
and he said, "We want to work with your team."
I say, "Sure, you know, I mean, I'm all ears."
They drop us into the stomach a building somewhere.
We walk down the aisle and walk down the other aisle.
"Where the hell do they take us? what is that? "
And so it is.
The way they hide it genius.
I mean, it's impossible anyone will know what's there
And the only person who goes in there Literally, a handful.
There are designers and people above in the company
involved in the project
No one knows about that.
If you can use innovation
to build the latest Ford vehicle performance,
what will happen?
Well, here's the idea.
[audience claps]
[cheering]
[Peter] When out, the impact is spectacular.
In this day and age, where you see spy photos from everything,
all the time, that's an amazing achievement
just to get it out as a surprise
Then the car itself fantastic.
[Tommy Kendall] See all the details,
wastegate method Exit through the tail light,
and the fact that there is actually a plumbing on the support,
all the items
This is the absolute peak of what can be done
[Edsel] I don't think GT succeeded not at all
I don't think we know.
I think it has been well received by the media.
I think it has been well received by interested people based on number the e-mail that I got, um,
in "How do I register? to buy it?"
But you know, we haven't launched the car yet.
Racing cars Have been tested,
so we don't really know whether it works.
I am very happy really as a fan, to see Ford,
to hear that Ford intends,
A, create a new version from GT, and, B, go racing.
It is said, I have to admit it
that idea to win Le Mans the first time you leave in a new car
is a big challenge.
I wish them the best, but I think,
I think I must have done it more confident if this is the second year of this program
not the first year.
You know, first time you entered the prototype,
This is a tense moment.
You can tell, If you get the basics right.
Is this something? You will be able to work with or this,
this will be a long distance.
[Larry] These are all we have been working towards here, together,
Multimatic and Ford.
There will be some historical milestones.
One will take a checkered flag at Le Mans, 2016.
But the important thing is is the first day we run race cars
[Raj] This is an important day for new production cars or racing cars,
the first search.
This is your first opportunity to find out the character from the car.
If it's not good out of the box,
it will be difficult to make it good
and very tough to make it great
[revving]
Today, this is just fun to get the actual car on the track right?
So hope is not high.
That is mainly just to see moving cars
What we see today Even though, do we see a car? is almost ready for the race.
[Raj] It's going well, But more importantly, it feels right
This does the simulation saying it will do it
Usually for searches,
we are working structural problems are wrong,
You know, the car doesn't have the right balance
or we have to go back and rethink, and,
we have gone beyond that step and talked about
setting the car, things that usually happen
weeks or maybe even months later.
So, already very good start
We don't want too confident
We are almost, a little worried about how good it happened
Working through our test program very fast
and into development from the vehicle immediately.
First initial test, we just want to make sure we submit
a car that is ready for to become a race developed,
and provide it to Chip Ganassi,
and Chip provides, You know, crew,
and racing car drivers and the operational side from that.
I think, for the engineering team, is very good
Development capabilities of all our drivers
in telling us what they need out of the car
Four cars, three drivers per car
That means you need to find 12 great drivers.
[George Howard-Chappell] This is very considered a decision,
choose drivers
Especially, you are looking for for speed and consistency.
And then, after that, you start entering characters
and whether or not The man is a team player.
Chip has this amazing ability
to be able to see you in the eyes and know if you are right for us
[Chip] There are a lot of fast drivers out there In the endurance race, where you share a car, you need to compromise.
There are always a few giving and receiving with other drivers
That is finally what is made decision for us
It's a little unheard of, really, for staff up in such a way,
Because almost all other race programs
starts with one car and then goes to two, or whatever, etc.,
for staff for four cars on two continents
for the full schedule, is not correct a precedent
[Justin Bell] You have 12 of the top drivers in the world, all based on their success, with what makes them successful,
very selfish, selfish, ambitious,
dog-eat-dog, mano-a-mano guys.
Westbrook is one of the most very competitive drivers I've met
He is a gentleman, But you see him upset when something happens,
it makes for a good interview in the pit
Because, you know, no one is banned Joey Hand, he's a warrior.
He is like a MMA fighter. You know, he was there.
This is interesting for Marino.
His brother has extraordinary success.
So the first thing is, people go, "He has to drive because of his brother."
You don't do it in an program at this level.
But this is the biggest opportunity in his career, and he knows that.
But Dirk Muller, one belonging to Nurburgring top driver,
has a large amount from the experience of the GT producer.
There is nothing they can throw him on the radio or on the track
that he will never see before.
I like the fact they bring this group with
Ford History at Le Mans
is one of the greatest stories in sports motorbikes of all time.
And to return is beyond words.
[Scott Dixon] This is not a very frequent program Come like this.
I've never even been to Le Mans, so,
this is for me,
there will be many eyes wide open,
the mouth might be a little, too, sometimes,
only, you know, take everything in
[Stefan Mucke] You know, history of Le Mans,
first thing You think about are Ford GTs.
Suddenly, you become part of it. It's like a dream come true.
For me, that was the first that crossed my mind.
I want to be part of that history
There is no one there it will not send it directly to the fence,
try to win the race.
Because that's all top-notch, front-running
badasses in the cars right now.
You can almost handle it.
To submit a coat to make this program
being successful and winning, that's a big problem,
being Ganassi assembled This type of driving talent , you know,
there is no reason They have been assembled for a reason.
They are professionals and they are there to win.
[Raj] Before going to Le Mans, we will have six races, starting at Daytona.
All that will happen real race,
but they too, to some extent,
will train for Le Mans.
And of course, our plan The better each race in leading
to make sure we are ready like we can for Le Mans.
I mean, look, we have a new car
we have all new drivers, who don't have familiarity with the vehicle
So, this is a very high order. This is a very high order.
Therefore, I expect us to win.
[reporter] Welcome, everyone, to Daytona I'm Brian Till,
happy to be part from another Rolex 24.
And that Ford GT has everyone talking
[Tommy Kendall] People who are dreaming about this for months
is VP Executive and Chief Technical Officer from Ford, Raj Nair.
Now, fighting at that time is with Ferrari
Crosstown people are Corvette
We all dream of the storybook is finished,
who do you want to bang the door with and head out with your nose,
Corvette or Ferrari, in 24 hours?
We focus enough on the victory, so hopefully we don't focus too much time
in what order Behind us is, so,
we will only focus in front.
Nervous.
Really, yes. Nervous, stress. A little pressure.
You know, everything we need We have done it technically.
I am very confident in that aspect.
But 24 hours endurance racing,
there is a little of luck statistics related to that
I won't tell you we're not here to win
You go racing to win, We all go racing to win,
but this really is all about going to Le Mans
This is for my career. I don't know what I will do after this
Buy wine somewhere, I don't know
Here it is Here it is Go to Le Mans this year, that he is.
[commentator 1] They roll over to the throttle.
We are green in Daytona, Rolex 24!
And talking about machines, there are 66, Joey Hand.
He now rises to second position, and is running 911 from Tandy.
[commentator 2] first. Second, Lam GTR.
He goes outside.
He pulled the draft earlier and appeared,
walk beside, he will cross the line in leading
Can he hold it back? become one?
Ford leads on their debut.
[car revving]
Ford versus Chevrolet here at high banks.
[commentator 1] This will happen be interesting here Look at the Ford.
Delay him Almost. There is a problem.
[commentator 2] There is a problem. Yes.
Surely losing the drive There, from that bend to Ryan Briscoe
[unclear conversation]
Implemented a little diagnosis,
found that it was one of a pneumatic belt
which controls shifts in the gear box.
Not something we see today in testing
Embarrassing must occur in a race.
[commentator 1] Other problems for one of the Ford GTs.
This is 66.
This is not good. I see, Joey will do it racing surface,
inside. He is really lost.
He must rely on the safety worker to get it back to the garage area [Raj] I hate losing I don't like it.
Honestly, we expect the reliability to be better.
Some things that break today are also not new to cars or they are many parts from the rest of the field run too,
but for some reason who broke our car
Some things we will not see in normal testing
You only need to race to see it.
That doesn't change frustration of having is a lot of trouble
[commentator 1] This car, because it's already out again and running, Cal,
has been running very, very fast.
[commentator 2] Really owns. I think Ryan Briscoe might have set the fastest lap of the race
in the GTLM category, so he has shown speed.
And this 24-hour race will take place to be a test for them,
if they see in the big picture from the championship
I know they want to succeed first they come out,
but there are many from other milestones
they will try and achieve it this year too [Henry Ford III] We have a good amount time to return
and see what happened correctly and what's wrong
I think we will be back, ready to go for Sebring.
We will be even stronger than we are now.
You can't have it in two directions. You can't have something
really, really, really material and have it really controlled
That's the nature.
But indeed makes this sport
I mean, the highest is So high, but also so is not often, you know,
and so, you know, the best people win
ten percent of races, you know.
So, to have all line up
on the day, in the year, just doesn't happen very often.
We appear in Daytona with higher expectations
and clear left with our tail between our legs are a little.
I think we were caught by some,
by some problems I will do characterize as...
When you try to do something in six months
that other people have Working for six years,
You say, "Oh yes, I forgot about that."
General conversation after Daytona,
You know, what, "Are they embarrassed?"
They tell you the program is nice They tell you the car is strong
They say so they will win the race in some cases.
And then not can make it
for the first two hours from the race because of from the gearbox problem,
You are immediately like, "Are they embarrassed?
Are they lying? Do they have this problem? "
And that's what happens some question marks of course.
[Justin] Welcome to the pit lane in one and only Sebring 12 hours. and more than 80,000 people have been here partying this weekend.
But now it's time for the racer to rock. at Sebring, Justin, it has been felt all week.
Nerves and anxiety from not only drivers, but also the crew,
have been proven
Coming to Daytona we have some problems
We know we have it anyway.
But this Sebring. This is a new animal.
So I don't expect to see the problems we fix
But that won't surprise me if we see some new problems.
It looks like we will go to get some rain today, and that's good.
To get out and put the car through the steps in the rain.
So, today will be interesting
This is the type of song,
we always say is half the size and twice as hard,
so we will see what happens
[Justin] Now, onboard 66, from Ford.
Third run now, Dirk Muller.
Many people are shocked to see some problems they have
on Rolex 24. I don't think we are.
New car, first race, and what they want,
the prize they want is Le Mans, coming in June.
[thud]
When the plane crashed, who did you blame?
Pilot.
That's the position You choose to place yourself in,
when you want to become a professional race car driver
But sometimes it's not always always fair
You don't want to be that man who wrote it.
You just don't want to be that person
That is only left.
I tried, I tried, I tried, but there was so much water, I basically just boating,
and, yes, it's a pity.
But the team came to me and said, "There is nothing you can do,"
which brings me again because you feel you let it your child under
[chuckles]
Dirk has just been discovered is locked into one.
There is nothing he can do it,
the car is hydroplaned,
all sets of telemetry, Brake pressure, all is good,
But the car just finished and entered the tire wall.
Unfortunately, right after that is when they are red marked for conditions,
so we just miss that a little,
and now the car is back here in the garage,
but as long as the red flag, you cannot repair the vehicle.
It looks like it will happen a red flag for a while.
[Ashley Parlett] I spend most of my time on the NASCAR side of things,
and then I fly on race day, or race weekend,
and help these people I help at the front end of these cars
We want to look good. We want, you know,
make some history, and back up the program,
for Ford and for ourselves as fans,
I think we all try to think longer towards Le Mans.
Trying to get big profits for our reliability
and try to make the best of it.
I am happy. I don't like "Happy, jumped and went down" happy.
All problems we have in Daytona,
we don't have every event returns of the issue,
So, from that perspective, I think we are good.
Through these first few races, Maybe we get our bad luck out of the way.
[commentator 1] Here we see the car
It's past the war a little here today
[commentator 2] The problem is, it seems, of these two Ford GTs.
[Dave] I think we've built up momentum since Daytona.
We have worked to get everything is synchronized together,
get the whole team, get the car ready to last long and run.
We want to appear on the track,
do not have much Extra-curricular activities
and just go race.
[revving]
With every race, we keep improving
and get better, and get faster, and get more reliable.
And come to Laguna, everyone feels positive
and carefully optimistic about weekends
[commentator 1] Now look, the second from Ford GTs,
Richard Westbrook inside,
to hairpin, what moves!
How is this story, when they enter the month from June, to Le Mans.
[commentator 2] And he clenched to the last turn
And here it is! First victory! Ford GT in Monterey!
Today, it comes together.
[Jamie] From Daytona to Laguna Seca, You see the program gel.
You see them have a mechanical problem.
You see them have their own problems.
And then you see them all come with and make it work.
[Dave] Not only that the first, obviously, won for GT,
but that's the biggest the spirit of encouraging you could be
in the team that has worked
24 hours a day, seven days a week,
give everything they have.
And what is the validation of what has happened.
[commentator 1] Two Ford prepare for for the big one It's more like a car we expect to see from Ford
at first this season
This is Ford we've looked for it
[Peter] Everything is ready,
but then, the actual race,
and things You can't predict it.
It's racing, and everyone knows in racing,
Something is wrong.
[throws a tire]
[falls]
[Raj] The best racer in the world loses more race than he achieved.
You must have a mentality,
if you lose, You don't think about losing,
You think about why you lost? and how you will fix it for the next race
Sit here, three days before the start of the race, I think the biggest thing is,
where we really stand at the speed of the car
and car durability? You know, I think it's all people's questions There are lots of things going on.
I don't really like this week, I like racing.
You only build, and you want to exit on the track.
But Wednesday is a good day.
This is the beginning of from the first exercise,
start the first qualification.
[Jamie] You want to have the fastest lap at the end of the qualifying session so you can start at the pole for 24 hours Le Mans.
Ford is rather in and surprised everyone.
They are not spectacular on the day of the exam in a week before the race,
but they are spectacular in qualifications
Ford has four of their cars in the top five.
[Raj] Being one, two, four and five is a good start.
This is the first time we've run away
the car is full trim qualification here, and,
I think it's fair to say, for all of us, the car
respond better than we expected,
that's why there is a good mood here
We have a lot of work to do, so it's important to stay focused
[Chip] People are very enthusiastic about where we qualify,
and that's a good thing, and that's interesting,
and it shows Potential of the car.
In fact,
in the endurance race, qualifications not are very important.
On Sunday afternoon, people will forget where everyone meets the requirements
[Justin Bell] They have high expectations.
The perfect story is that they won this a certain weekend in June
Nobody will blame them for not winning
Because achievement is too difficult to go to Le Mans in the first year.
They will lead the race, surely.
They will lead the race for that lot, I think
Their drivers are the same as fast as anyone,
and the car is super fast.
But the demands are from the long term through
and not involved in an accident,
and what the weather is will be like, it's very difficult
[Kelly] When I come in the first year of Corvette,
Our three-year program
Literally, is only for to go there.
First year, our car finished third,
and Ron's car is fourth, and the team is happy.
Never has anyone an unlucky mind
that we go there to win the race
This is much more difficult than what people think, and,
You know, sometimes you can have all...
all the components you think right on the line,
but they have to gel, they have to blend in,
and, you know, luckiest to them. Of course.
But it's not an easy achievement to get there for the first time after 50 years
and try to win the race.
Ford bank data will go to Le Mans not rich.
Same for Ganassi.
Ganassi has no institutional knowledge go to Le Mans.
I mean, all other people try to win
Corvette is probably the highest technology race team
outside of McLaren.
Pratt & Miller do a guide system to track missiles in space
So they can make a race car around the track
They won there eight or ten times from the last 15 years
[Kelly] Porsche, man, they have that place know.
They are directly the brand wins all the time.
And to this day what creates that aura
which makes Porsche the way it is.
Wading? This is an unknown entity.
There will be many things that need to be known.
[Joey Hand] Difficult things Here at Le Mans is the line about 8.5 miles in length,
so you can have rain on one end and dry on the other.
That's when is very complicated because you have to keep wearing a neat tire.
You can't use rain because you will burn out Rain in the dry parts.
So you have to be fair work your way through the wet parts.
From the driver's point of view, we just really want to have one or the other.
It becomes very complicated It was back and forth.
But that's how it is.
[Kelly] Le Mans is a very dangerous place There are times when where there is a river crossing,
and you will discuss it three times and you will not aquaplane,
and you will hit it the same angle next time at 180 miles per hour
and the whole car will go... [quickly exhale]
Like that, and then you will leave, "Oh, you have to breathe."
[commentator] Number 67 Ford GT,
one in four identical cars in this race,
is retreating to the garage. Andrew Marriott, can you update?
[Andrew] Yes, they must have Machine problems with this.
They fire it several times, the rear deck is turned off.
So, that's how they are doing right now.
I'm pretty sure this car won't start.
The driver sits on the wheel,
there are about 15 people all huddled around him.
George Howard-Chappell, team manager,
is directing the operation here
There must be something wrong with a motorbike.
[Andrew] Well, Harry, this is destroying disappointment.
I think is a motorbike problem, but it seems like it's a gearbox.
Yes, gearbox problems. We lose the gearbox pressure
in the reconnaissance round, So, I put it in the box, and,
Boys think they've found it may be a quick fix,
so we will see if that works
If not, I think we will enter for a little longer
But we will try this now and see how it goes.
[Jamie] You have from Ford starting from the garage
The cars are so close. They are built exactly the same,
So, immediately, from bats, you are like,
"Alright, so there are four cars will make the final this race,
or there is a car will make the end of the race?" That is...
For 24 hours, you question program survival.
[Raj] Yes, for that happens even before the race starts,
in the other hand, You think,
"Oh, son, this will happen long 24 hours."
In addition, I thought, "Okay, I'm glad I brought four cars."
[chuckles]
[commentator] Back to life, at Le Mans,
on French rainy days, but the sun pierces.
Crowds in the stands fold their umbrellas,
and take off their raincoat, that's a good sign
This is the first time in 84 runnings in this race
that 24 hours from Le Mans has begun behind the safety car
[commentator] Sixty cars are now on their way to Le Mans under the green
[Jamie] Fast structure in sports car racing is unique.
You have, basically, four different races occur
at the racetrack at the same time.
So you have a prototype.
That is the thing the producer is developing
to be in their car, Maybe five-ten years on the road.
From a coverage point of view,
You always follow the overall leader
So, it's always, in sports car racing, will be a prototype
But recently, the GT category has gained more interest
because they are cars that can be associated with people.
The GTE pro car looks like the car you will see driving on the road.
The level of competition there is very strong [commentator 1] What a battle here at GTE pro,
between Ferrari and Ford, just like We saw 50 years ago.
[commentator 2] What a battle,
as one Ferrari jump in front Ford GTs.
[Richard] Wherever you go, someone reminds you about history
from Ford at Le Mans.
So, you permanently remind him,
and you can't really escape from it. That's not what I want.
[Scott] For me, I think there must be some nerves
You understand large images.
You understand the emphasis in 50 years,
You know, there is a big story behind it
But to be able to come here and win the first year is a very big hope.
We try to think of everything as a team
You try to think from every different scenario.
But many of us have never been here, We have never been here before.
There are many things that can get you out of there
But I think, by having four cars,
You know, surely,
You know, spreading that stress, and a little emotion.
[Joey] No matter what happens, we will become part of history
I'll be one of those people That, 50 years later,
try this.
Hopefully, we can say that we won, or the podium or whatever,
but at least do an experiment for that.
[revving]
[speed reduction]
[thud]
[commentator] This is not where you want
at the end of Mulsanne to Mulsanne Corner.
And for Marino Franchitti,
it's not where he wants to be right now
He said on the radio, "I just locked them, I can't get it opened."
He is not the first car that we have seen there.
In fact, This is a very popular place to be today,
But it's an easy mistake to make it at the end just right
Good news for Ford is this the car it has early on
That's already a few laps down
and they do bring four of them, so...
[Raj] At present, 67 cars are really not debated.
The car is doing very well.
This is the first place trading back and forth With Ferrari now, so,
we just see what night brings
[commentator] Right time to make some drivers change, continue.
Enter those people in and let them run into dusk,
and then when you put it the next driver
in some tasks from now on, some tasks from now,
they can enter in total darkness,
and they must be so adjust to that
We see 68, Joey Hand, Pitted from lead,
Sebastien Bourdais has taken over the car
Billy Johnson aboard 66 now
[Jamie] And you grew up The point is, Bryan, about having the same driver
during this transition period from noon to dark.
The effect is that sunlight is in your eyes Different places that you,
it bothers you around the race track, and has someone there
like transitions and not just there immediately.
[Mark] Early race is a bit stressful
number 67 has some gearbox problems.
But come back in, and they are all racing now.
And I can't wait to sunset
because that's when really, really special
[commentator] Beautiful overhead display, when night falls
and the party starts earnestly.
[Jim] Racing at Le Mans, especially at night,
very "out of the body".
It's not very fun, but you do it
and visual input You get as a human
very out of this world
[Larry] People enter a,
let's not call it, no, trans state, sounds crazy,
but people enter the zone.
And, at night, especially.
And you get the rhythm from driving the track,
and where, sometimes, you talk to your driver on the radio,
and they won't answer you
[Jim] like you are almost in dreams
because everything is very strange
Lights, weather,
racing itself
You know, You must really believe your knowledge of the course,
because you go to an angle in 170-180 miles per hour,
and if you are wrong, you will be very hurt
[Richard] I mean, is dangerous This is dangerous.
You can't escape from it.
This, this kind of tunnel feels when you go through Tertre Rouge,
down long straight then,
Sometimes it can be a little lonely out there, that's weird, this...
You know, sometimes at night You don't see another car
and you might do a radio check, just to check, you know,
Your team is still there [chuckles]
[Larry] We install repeater out along the track, radio repeaters
Our telemetry cannot be overcome with the size of the song,
so if you just try to take everything in and out from the hole,
Mulsanne Corner is too far away.
So you get this repeater out there and you do everything you can
to save radio contacts with the driver
[commentator 1] Return to Le Mans, still light in the sky above the head
Some are cloudy in the sky, It seems, hopefully, we are free of rain
on the run to finish.
Now a little over nine hours
[Jamie] Overnight, Ford and Ferrari go back and forth
And then, at sunrise for the second day,
Ferrari leads and Ford find themselves in second place.
[tire flapping]
[commentator 1] Ferrari really came to live here,
Once we get it darkness last night
Has not stopped since.
[commentator 2] It seems to me, just reading into the
pattern the last six eight hours, Tommy,
it looks like Ford to be a little vulnerable to cooler conditions
and ran behind car speed, don't have lots of tire temps there.
The condition of the track is not that is high either now, so,
It looks like the car isn't so lives back as fast as possible
like Ferrari has been all night.
Fixed type for our thesis
maybe it's between compounds and want which is softer now
in conditions like this. Now, if things get warmer,
does it put them right in their sweet spot,
and start taking Ferrari from them,
maybe the question
[commentator 1] If you base it yesterday afternoon, you will say it.
[commentator 1] Le Mans is born and raised, Sebastien Bourdais,
try to run Toni Vilander in first class Ferrari.
[commentator 2] He doesn't like being the second He has finished second three times overall,
ran for Peugeot [chuckles]
And the Frenchman, whose hometown is Le Mans,
want that one position in front of Ferrari.
[Sebastien] For me, is very difficult
because I have dominated this space many times
and come short in the last few hours,
or something goes wrong in the morning, or whatever,
and that's only one of them where do you type
fear almost at this time where it will only be damaged.
And you are almost almost started to feel it there Maybe it's a curse or something.
The last time I was in a car around 06.00: 00.00 or something,
the computer goes banana and now I have, like, no information.
Speedometer no longer works,
so I have to come through the hole with full expected speed
Because the display doesn't display anything else And I can't stop the car, and...
This happens again.
[Raj] We have problems with electronics in the car,
and so many pass it our steering wheel,
including when we come into the pit.
Drivers turn off the engine through the steering wheel,
and only then were we permitted to refuel the car
So the rule says, the machine must die while we are refueling.
And when he enters,
the machine is not turned off.
[engine revving]
- [Jamie] that's it - [commentator 2] That's so big!
That's Dirk Muller, that's the second place GTE Pro goes in
And they will have to come to the pit lane
Currently, the gap, is only 12.5 seconds in GTE Pro, but this is very large for Ford.
[Jamie] Must serve the penalty at Le Mans means
that you have to get out race track,
speed of your race down for pit lane speed,
driving along the road down the pit lane,
and then, take yourself back to speed again in a safe way
Can be charged at least 30 seconds .
[slow dramatic music playing]
That is what differentiates racing from every other sport.
You can hit the worst shot in golf history,
and still win the Masters in one of your shots
You can throw a really horrible bait and win the Super Bowl.
If you have a bad angle at Le Mans, you don't win
[commentator 1] We speak about mistakes that can be made remove you from this event.
[commentator 2] Does Ford only make a mistake in the pit lane?
We must see how the pan comes out
You have got a lot of time left, You have a problem,
more than six hours,
and you enter, You take your medicine,
and now you focus forward to finish the job again
And you make that distance.
You can't let that affect you mentally
[Raj] The car is very easy on the tire, which we design like that,
But that also means that is not always getting hot on the tire,
especially on cold nights.
And when it warms up, We know the car will be faster,
So, we know it's still there A good chance to catch it,
but it will happen asks us to run flat-out from that point.
Dirk gets the message, and he just runs round by round after round
and cut that lead, and I think at that time
He handed his car he had cut almost a minute down just 15 seconds or more.
[revving]
[commentator 1] Joey Hand, now behind the wheel 68,
when he hunts down Matteo Malucelli.
You ride on the ship with Joey now,
and the car you see in front is bright, red number 82
This is to lead at GTE Pro at Le Mans.
[car revving]
[tense music]
[commentator 1] As the weather continues to warm up all day,
expect Ford to be better and better and better,
and that's not good news for Ferrari
[Joey] This is true the steering wheel This is where I live, here.
Will chase someone and pass it.
Points in the race, You start staggering.
When you pass someone to lead,
that could be the way
If you have a car that can go run someone, skip him, and keep going,
they will have to catch you right?
There won't be any free
[commentator 1] Ford accelerates, apparently, to the same level.
But finally Ferrari gets to the highlands
and it seems like Ford to continue to attract.
[crew member] Ah, this works.
[crew member] take him, Joey!
-Yes! - [the team claps]
[Edsel] Ford versus Ferrari.
It feels like it's 50 years ago.
Now, we have to wait for until the end of the race,
but the car looks good, and, we are very optimistic.
[commentator 2] Ryan Briscoe, on board 69,
So, in the top three now in GTE Pro.
There are Ford, Ferrari, and Ford.
So, both U.S.-based cars from Ford Chip Ganassi
in the big three.
Oh, and problems for 82, Toni Vilander.
That is a big round.
This is scary now.
Hopefully, people pay attention to the yellow Dan Vilander
try to get away, and then go back on track.
[commentator 1] This is also very big for Ford.
You can't give it
anything for competitors like this you run against,
or Ford will say, "Thank you very much," and take that,
and use it big time
Yes, Ferrari made it a little spin and gave us a little breath I think the race switch a little.
Now it will be a pure reliability match and,
speed seems is very balanced,
So, fingers are crossed and take it home now.
Just sit down, Let people know.
Now, there's nothing I can do it again. Just look and,
and hope.
[Jamie] Before Vilander spun, it was only more than five seconds,
Now it's two minutes and five seconds that it's their cost.
[big commentator] And what it does is move
Toni Vilander is approaching
for Ryan Briscoe at 69, seems like, for a moment
you are trying to hang on to lead, and the next time,
You try to recover from errors and stay in second place.
[commentator 1] Two more hours.
Until now, Ford has been almost flawless Dirk Muller enters
Joey helped him.
[Jaime] Muller should enter now to checker
Two hours left.
Joey gave him a pat, and said, "Have a good one, brother."
Meanwhile, 82 in second place, will not give up against.
[revving]
[Dirk] I try to go slow, be honest, but I make a few mistakes
I just say to myself, "Do your normal speed."
I mean, if the car isn't able to do ten more laps, I mean, then, that's it.
I have to focus.
[commentator 1] Let's go to Andrew Marriott.
Well, Raj, I can't say You have a smile on your face,
Because I'm sure your heart is in your mouth right now
Yes, we have 37 minutes, and maybe I will smile at that time.
Keep everything, Raj.
Yes, I have all my fingers and toes crossing.
[chuckles] thank you
- [commentator 1] Sounds nervous, right? - [commentator 1] Yes, he did it.
[Kelly] 2003, we have about two rounds of lead.
I entered for the last pit stop,
and the central lock nut which holds the wheel,
The car rolled under the car
sharp side up.
It's hard to tell the story because that's how it is I lost the race,
but the tip is sharp pierced through it carbon fiber body
into a pan of oil, and all oil get out of the car
What is needed to get to Le Mans and be in the winning car
in a winning position
and have it taken from you and know
that will never happen "I will never win Le Mans."
That is a difficult pill, because I know it's ours.
When I'm really small, Maybe about four or five,
I remember my father going home, and,
he is very happy to tell me about that
and how great the victory is for Ford.
And I remember thinking "I wish I'd been there."
[crescendo music playing]
Oh my God!
[clapping]
[cheering]
Fifty years, baby!
It's like a dream come true, this weekend.
I mean, that is something you will never
dream about. I mean,
This is crazy.
I think we have reached something big here today
[cork appears]
[cheering]
This is as good as it gets.
When we approve this program, We do it to take part in the race here at Le Mans.
And I think we are proven that is the right decision
[Raj] We did what we came here to do
We do it for our employees, and our families,
and everyone who loves Ford.
I hope they are proud of us.
[commentator 1] Sebastien Bourdais.
Sebastien's father, Patrick, advanced in this race
When you race for so many people, and you feel that there are
sort of greatness in its entirety,
it's just something I've never experienced before
And to be able to see how many mean for the Ford Family,
it's priceless.
[Edsel] I think back 50 years for my father, who I am there with,
and I think he will be so very proud of
And he must be so Even more proud we passed the Ferrari
Soon I mean, you know.
I have to sort of Hold myself. That is really amazing.
[cheering]
[Joey] holy cow, we won Le Mans, you know?
You dream about this,
You try and imagine yourself at this time.
It's crazy to think the number of people is needed to get here
[Bill Ford] I don't know how it feels, But I know it feels good.
It's about back to Le Mans
and show that, we, like Ford Motor Company, have what it takes to win
We all need to make this happen
Every one of them and every one of them is a garage
put the Ford GT across the finish line That's what I know.
This is what it means to be a team.
[slow music playing]
[playing instrumental music]