Ford’s new Le Mans hypercar is already proving that endurance racing’s future doesn’t have to sound quiet.
During track testing, the prototype can be heard creeping down the pit lane on electric power, producing little more than a faint whine. Then, as it crosses the pit release line and the driver opens the throttle, the combustion engine fires into life. The transformation is instant and spectacular.
Behind that soundtrack is a hybrid powertrain developed for endurance racing regulations. At its heart sits a heavily reworked 5.4-litre V8 based on Ford’s familiar Coyote architecture. It isn’t remotely a standard road-car engine, though. The race-bred unit reportedly revs all the way to a 9,000 rpm redline.
Track testing is still underway, so there is plenty more to learn about Ford’s new endurance racer. For now, though, that switch from near-silent EV running to a screaming V8 is a convincing preview of what’s coming to the track.
