Ford Racing’s new Hypercar is being track-tested for the first time this week ahead of next-year’s entry in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) series and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The prototype is built on an Oreca chassis with a powertrain that combines a Ford 5.4-liter V8 with a spec hybrid electric motor.
Rules stipulate that the cars must be driven by the electric motor in the pits, which is then used to bump-start the internal combustion engine on exit.
Ford has posted an in-car video of what the transition from the electric motor whir to the thunder of the V8 sounds as the car leaves its stall at France’s Circuit Paul Ricard and hits the track.
The V8, which Ford has branded a Coyote like the Mustang’s 5.0-liter, has a redline of 9,000 RPM, while the combined output of the hybrid system is restricted to roughly 670 hp.
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Ford will enter two of the cars in the 24 Hours of Le Mans as it attempts to claim the first overall win for an American factory effort since it won the 1967 race with the GT40, which went on to win the next two races with privateer teams.
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