Ford Gt40 1966 Le Mans Finish Line, 1966 Lemans A Bittersweet Victory The Speed Journal

After the 86 th running of the 24 hours of le mans actually a couple of months from now one of the ford gt40s which ran at the 1966 le mans in fords historic 1 2 3 domination of the podium is up for auction.

Ford fiesta zetec s black edition. Watch the bittersweet story behind the ford gt40s 1966 le mans photo finish petersen automotive museums new film 8 meters chronicles the final moments of the famed race. Ford dominated the le mans 24 hours race in 1966 winning it for the first time and taking all the podium places with its updated mkii and stellar driver line upbut instead of euphoria on the podium chris amon and bruce mclaren who were classified first were strangely subdued. It was also the seventh round of the 1966 world sportscar championship seasonthis was the first overall win at le mans for the ford gt40 as well as the first overall win for an american constructor.

Watch the bittersweet story behind the ford gt40s 1966 le mans photo finish. Fords staged finish of the 24 hours of le mans in 1966 was one of the most controversial and mysterious chapters in the gts saga. One of the first changes made for the 1966 racing season was the establishment of the le mans committee which was comprised of the heads of a number of ford divisions involved including the engine and foundry general parts and also expanded the role of the dearborn motorsports.

Keen to beat ferrari at its own game ford entered a total of 15 mk ii gt40s for le mans in 1966. The real life le mans 66 ended with a historic finish. Ford trounced the frontrunner ferrari as all three ford cars crossed the finish line in a dead heat.

Although they dominated the race with not one but three of their gt40s leading with 16 laps ahead of the closest competitor the final outcome was convoluted. 1966 podium ford gt40 goes to auction. The pair had inherited victory from fellow ford driver ken miles in car no1 who had earlier pulled out a lead of.

This car took second place overall all three top finishers were ford gt40s in the 1966 24 hours of le mansthe 1 car was driven by ken miles and denny hulme and together with the 2 car driven by bruce mclarenchris amon 1st overall and 5 car driven by bucknumhutcherson 3rd overall gave ford its first victory in a 24 hour race. 50 years later exactly the petersen automotive museum and superformance have released a documentary called 8 meters. The 1966 24 hours of le mans was the 34th grand prix of endurance and took place on 18 and 19 june 1966.

The origins of the ford gt40 and the victory at le mans in 1966. It was also the debut le mans start for two significant drivers. Ford gt40 mk ii front.

Its the car that came third number 5 and is expected to fetch around usd12m.