Ford has reached another major milestone in its World Endurance Championship programme after firing up the naturally aspirated V8 powering its upcoming Hypercar for the very first time.
The dramatic first engine start offers an early glimpse of the machine that will spearhead the Blue Oval’s return to the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The new LMDh contender is built around a 5.4-litre V8 derived from Ford’s familiar Coyote architecture, although it has been extensively reworked for endurance racing and paired with the championship’s standard hybrid system.
Under current LMDh regulations, combined output is limited to 671bhp, while the chassis is being developed in partnership with French constructor Oreca.
The latest engine fire-up marks the point where Ford’s powertrain and chassis programmes have successfully come together, moving the project into its next phase of development.
Dan Sayers, Ford Racing’s WEC Hypercar programme manager, described the achievement as far more than a ceremonial moment. He explained that extensive dyno testing at Ford’s Dearborn facilities has already delivered encouraging results, allowing engineers to push the engine’s performance and durability while gathering valuable development data.
With those lessons now integrated into the complete prototype alongside Oreca’s chassis, the successful first start represents a crucial validation before the car heads out onto the circuit.
Track development is scheduled to begin across Europe in August, where Ford’s factory driver line-up will get its first opportunity behind the wheel. Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, Matt Campbell, Nick Yelloly and Tom Blomqvist will all play a role in refining the Hypercar ahead of its competitive debut.
If the unmistakable soundtrack heard during the initial engine firing is any indication, Ford could be adding one of endurance racing’s most characterful V8s to a grid already featuring some of the best-sounding machinery in modern motorsport.
With testing now moving from the workshop to the racetrack, Ford’s ambitious return to Le Mans continues to gather momentum.
The early signs suggest the American manufacturer isn’t just aiming to compete—it wants to make its presence felt both on the timing screens and through the unmistakable soundtrack echoing around the Circuit de la Sarthe.
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