Ever since Ford introduced the newest machine to bear the GT moniker, we knew the American car manufacturer had big racing plans with the automobile. Now, six months after announcing its return to endurance racing, Ford revealed the drivers behind this year’s GT racer.

So, without further ado, Ford Chip Ganassi Racing announced that Marino Franchitti, Stefan Mücke, Olivier Pla and Andy Priaulx have been selected to race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the wheel of the all-new Ford GT.

But the story doesn’t end here, as Ford is running two cars in the World Endurance Championship and two in the MSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, with the intention for the two teams to come together in June for a four-car effort at one of the most grueling, iconic and hardest race in the world: Le Mans – exactly fifty years after the historic 1-2-3 finish against Ferrari.

Mind you, the team seems experienced enough to take on the mighty challenge, as Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director stated:

“Make no mistake, we are racing to win. To compete at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers, and we have selected Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino to drive the Ford GT to take on the best in the world.”

In fact, Briton Marino Franchitti is an endurance-specialist and has raced at Le Mans no less than five times, Stefan Mücke, has multiple WEC victories, Olivier Pla also has first-hand experience of the fierce competition in WEC, while Briton Andy Priaulx is a three-time FIA World Touring Car Champion who has also won one of the world’s toughest endurance races – the Nürburgring 24 Hours – and stood on the podium at Le Mans.

“A new project is always exciting but for me to be driving for Ford in the WEC is just on another level. I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the car and start the preparations for the season. Any motorsport fan will remember the iconic Ford GT40 cars of the past, and for me to be part of this programme 50 years after Ford’s historic win at Le Mans is such a privilege”, Priaulx said.

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