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Ford Hypercar Breaks Cover in First Track Tests Ahead of 2027 WEC Debut
Ford Racing has put its new LMDh contender through its initial track shakedown at Circuit Paul Ricard with factory drivers Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-08-19T15:54:00.000Z - 2 min read
Ford Racing has officially broken cover with its new LMDh prototype, releasing the first images of the car running on track as part of its preparations for the FIA World Endurance Championship. The machine completed its initial shakedown running at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, taking advantage of the circuit's proximity to constructor ORECA, whose chassis forms the structural foundation of the American prototype.
The test programme commenced earlier in the month with a dedicated shakedown phase designed to verify core mechanical and electronic systems. Once those foundational checks were completed, the team moved on to proper track evaluations on Monday, 17 August. Factory drivers Matt Campbell and Logan Sargeant shared driving duties during this milestone outing, giving the project its first public running.
Tom Blomqvist was also present during the early development stages and is scheduled to join the active testing roster in the coming days. The trio forms part of a six-driver lineup assembled by Ford for its 2027 top-class campaign. They are joined by Mike Rockenfeller, Nick Yelloly and Sebastian Priaulx in completing the official driver pool for the upcoming Hypercar programme.
Beneath the newly revealed silhouette lies a powertrain anchored by a 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine derived from Ford's Coyote architecture. Before pushing for outright lap time performance, engineers focused strictly on system integration, ensuring that all onboard controls and operational loops functioned correctly under load. Ford reported that this initial baseline phase progressed precisely according to schedule.
The emergence of the prototype on track marks a symbolic shift for the manufacturer as it moves away from months of closed-door simulation and design work. The project is building towards a full-time entry in the FIA WEC and a targeted appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2027. This campaign represents Ford's first major assault on the outright victory class at La Sarthe in decades.
Further technical details and additional media from the ongoing testing schedule are expected to be published by Ford Racing in the coming week. The car will continue an extensive mileage accumulation plan over the intervening months as the team prepares for its competitive homologation and grid debut.