Ford Racing’s return to the top level of endurance racing is no longer just a rendering, a dyno program, or an engine sitting in a development cell. The new Ford Hypercar is on track, and at the center of it is a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter Coyote-based V8.
Ford has given us our first real look at the prototype that will take the Blue Oval back into the top class of the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2027. The camouflaged Hypercar has begun its on-track development program in France as Ford prepares for one of the biggest targets in its modern racing history: returning to fight for an overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
A 5.4-Liter Coyote Sits at the Heart of Ford’s Hypercar
For Mustang and Ford performance enthusiasts, the powerplant may be the most interesting part of the entire program.
Ford Racing has confirmed that the Hypercar is powered by a 5.4-liter naturally aspirated Coyote-based V8. The engine was designed, developed and built in-house in Michigan and is paired with the spec hybrid system required by the LMDh platform.
That is an important distinction. Ford isn’t simply putting its badge on an outside engine package. The company has taken responsibility for the development of the V8 itself, using the racing program as another connection between Ford’s competition efforts and its production performance vehicles.
The engine architecture also creates a direct family connection to the naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 already competing in the Mustang GT3. The Hypercar engine is its own purpose-developed racing application, but the Coyote foundation gives Ford enthusiasts something immediately recognizable underneath one of the most technologically advanced race cars the company has developed.
From Dearborn Dynos to the Racetrack
The first Hypercar engine had already been running through Ford’s dyno development program in Dearborn earlier this year. In July, Ford reached another major milestone when the 5.4-liter V8 was fired for the first time while installed in the Hypercar chassis with its hybrid system.
Now the complete car has taken the next step.
Ford’s prototype completed its initial shakedown at Circuit Paul Ricard in France in early August, with the early running focused on validating the car’s systems. The development program has since moved into higher-speed testing as Ford begins collecting the real-world data needed to refine performance, reliability, hybrid integration and aerodynamics.
ORECA Chassis, Ford Power
Ford selected ORECA as its chassis partner for the LMDh-based program. ORECA brings extensive prototype and endurance-racing experience, but Ford has made it clear that this is intended to be a Ford-powered, Ford-developed and Ford-raced effort.
The combination gives Ford a proven chassis-development partner while allowing its own engineers to concentrate heavily on the powertrain, controls and overall vehicle integration.
Six factory drivers have already been announced for the program: Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, Matt Campbell, Nick Yelloly and Tom Blomqvist. Their development work will be critical as Ford piles on testing mileage ahead of the 2027 season.
Ford Is Going Back to Le Mans for the Overall Win
This program carries considerably more weight than simply adding another Ford race car to the lineup.
Ford won the 24 Hours of Le Mans overall four consecutive times from 1966 through 1969 with the legendary GT40 program. More recently, the Ford GT delivered a GTE Pro class victory in 2016, while Mustang now competes internationally through Ford’s GT3 program.
But 2027 puts Ford back in position to fight for the overall victory.
That means lining up against manufacturers including Ferrari, Porsche, Cadillac, Toyota and the rest of an increasingly stacked top-level endurance field. Ford has been equally clear about the objective since announcing the program: it isn’t returning simply to participate.
And It Sounds Like a Ford
There will be plenty more to learn as the camouflage comes off and Ford reveals the final aerodynamic package, specifications, driver pairings and official identity of the car.
But one of the biggest questions has already been answered.
In an era where turbocharged engines dominate much of top-level motorsport, Ford is heading back to Le Mans with a naturally aspirated V8 carrying Coyote DNA. Now that the prototype is finally turning laps, the countdown to 2027 feels very real.
Ford is going back to the top class at Le Mans, and a Michigan-developed 5.4-liter Coyote-based V8 is going with it.
