Ford Wins Le Mans Ken Miles, New Film Le Mans 66 Delves Into The Life Of Ken Miles The Tragic Tea Loving Brit Who Helped Ford Thrash Ferrari

In 1965 he shared a ford gt mkii with bruce mclaren at the 24 hours of le mans but retired with gearbox trouble.

Ford probe 1989. Ken miles and long time friend and crew chief charlie agapiou confer during a late race pit stop. Earlier in the year also with mclaren he had finished second at the 12 hours of sebring. The next year he won the 24 hours of daytona sharing the ford gt mkii with lloyd ruby and then won the 12 hours of sebringseveral months later sharing the drive with denny hulme miles.

The true story of ken miles mysterious death that ford v. Had miles won he wouldve been the first driver to win the triple crown of daytona sebring and le mans in a single year. And tragically ken miles did die shortly after le mans 66.

Henry ford honorary starter in 66 waved the flag to open the chapter of the story he had been so desperate to author. Ken miles death in ford v ferrari isnt too far off from what really happened though the movie changes some details for storytelling purposes. 250000 spectators showed up to watch the ford and ferrari showdown in 1966.

Leading from the start fords quickly established a lead although ken miles collision with john whitmores alan mann racing ford brought him into the pits at the end of lap one. They wanted the headlines to read ford wins le mans not miles becomes the first to sweep daytona sebring and le mans. Ford was going to build a car to beat ferrari in the worlds most important race le mansa race ferrari had won five years in a row.

Upon realizing that he had lost his well deserved win at le mans 66 to another ford driver. Although that glory was short lived for miles who died behind the wheel soon after he is still considered one of racings great american heroes with his feat inspiring the recent film ford v ferrari. But miles died in a car wreck just two months after le mans and.

For years hollywood wanted to adapt the true story of fords triumph over the perennial champion ferrari at the 1966 24 hours of le mans race and for good reason. The le mans course is 85 miles and whatever team does the most laps in a 24 hour time period wins. Ford didnt want ken to win at le mans.

Glory at le mans which tells the same. The story in a nutshell.