50 years to the day following the '66 Le Mans 1-2-3, the No. 68 #FordGT has won the GTE Pro Class at #LeMans24 pic.twitter.com/jkMLuWlEYm
— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) June 19, 2016
In 1966, Ford Motor Company did the impossible. In the most prestigious international race in the world, the American manufacturer that hadn't been involved in high-level racing for decades put an end to Ferrari's winning streak with a complete sweep of the podium.
"The iconic 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans was probably the defining moment in Ford's race history," said Bill Ford, Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company.
In 2016, after a five-decade hiatus, Ford returned to 24 Hours of Le Mans to compete in the GT Endurance Pro category, and took home first, third, and fourth in a near-reenactment of the historic 1966 win.
"We dared to dream that we could return to Le Mans, 50 years after the incredible 1966 win, and take on the toughest competition in the world," Bill Ford said. "The pride we all felt when the Ford GT crossed the line at Le Mans is indescribable. The team that designed, built and raced the Ford GT has worked tirelessly to bring us to this result and I am proud of each and every one of them. The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team demonstrated the spirit of Ford, that of innovation, determination and true teamwork. We cherish our history and heritage, but today we made history again and I couldn't be more proud."
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