GREATWORTH PARK, U.K., 5 January 2016 – Ford Chip Ganassi Racing today revealed that Marino Franchitti, Stefan Mücke, Olivier Pla and Andy Priaulx have been selected to race in the 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) at the wheel of the all-new Ford GT.
Ford is running two cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship and two in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The intention is for the two teams to come together in June for a four-car effort at arguably the most famous endurance race in the world, the Le Mans 24 Hours, fifty years after its historic 1-2-3 finish. The FIA WEC will visit a further three locations in Europe: Silverstone (UK), Nürburgring (Germany) and Spa (Belgium).
“Make no mistake, we are racing to win,” said Dave Pericak, Ford Performance global director. “To compete at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers, and we have selected Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino to drive the Ford GT to take on the best in the world.”
“I’m excited to be at team HQ in the UK to launch the WEC team,” said Chip Ganassi, owner of Ford Chip Ganassi Racing. “Just like when we announced the Ford GT drivers for the Weathertech Sportscar Championship last month, we’ve again chosen drivers with heart, speed and proven endurance racing credentials. It’s a global team running in two championships and I can’t wait for the racing to begin.”
Briton Marino Franchitti is an endurance-specialist and has raced at Le Mans no less than five times. Stefan Mücke, from Germany, has multiple WEC victories under his belt and knows what it takes to make it onto the podium at Le Mans. Frenchman, Olivier Pla, also has first-hand experience of the fierce competition in WEC. Briton Andy Priaulx is a three-time FIA World Touring Car Champion who has also won one of the world’s toughest endurance races - the Nürburgring 24 Hours - and stood on the podium at Le Mans.
WEC Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team principal – Multimatic’s George Howard-Chappell – has already led a team to victory at Le Mans on three occasions.
“It doesn’t get any more competitive than the Le Mans 24 Hours but that is what makes winning it so special,” said Howard-Chappell. “Everything has to be perfect and even then you still need luck on your side to cross the line first. The Ford GT has been built to return to Le Mans and these four drivers all know what it takes to compete against the toughest competition in the world.”
Mücke will get behind the wheel of the Ford GT very soon as he joins the IMSA Ford Chip Ganassi Racing squad for the Roar Before the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Jan. 8-10. Mücke will become the third driver in the #67 Ford GT entry at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which takes place on January 30-31 alongside Ryan Briscoe and Richard Westbrook.
The all-new Ford GT is the pinnacle of Ford innovation in aerodynamics and lightweight carbon fibre construction. It is powered by a new twin-turbo Ford EcoBoost V6 engine, the most powerful EcoBoost production engine ever.
Introducing the WEC Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Drivers
Marino Franchitti is part of a family where performance is hard-wired into their DNA. He won the 12 Hours of Sebring with Chip Ganassi Racing-Ford in 2014 - Ford's first overall win there since 1969.
“From my first test in the Ford GT I fell in love with it and just wanted to drive it more and more. It’s incredible to be part of Ford’s return to international GT racing and to go to Le Mans 50 years after Ford’s first win there will be extremely special.” Franchitti said. “The car feels great to drive; the new LM GTE rules certainly move the performance of a GT car to new levels and Ford and their partners have built a fantastic car.”
Stefan Mücke is a proven race winner. The German has competed in the GTE Pro class of WEC since the series’ formation in 2012, and knows the World Endurance Championship inside and out.
“I’m very excited to be part of such a great programme, especially with the history that the Ford GT has at Le Mans,” Mücke said. “Le Mans is a very special race for every driver. It is the one that we all want to win because it is such a difficult thing to do. I have come close in the past and now I hope that with Ford we can go all the way.”
Olivier Pla is one of sportscar racing’s best-kept secrets. The quiet Frenchman is known for his incredible car control and knows what it takes to win at the highest level.
“It's a huge honour for me to represent Ford - the Ford GT is a very special car and it is a privilege for me to drive it. The level of competition is going to be incredibly high in WEC and I can’t wait to race. Personally as a Frenchman, lining up at Le Mans as a Ford GT driver will be something very special.”
Andy Priaulx is a triple World Touring Car Champion who has won the Nürburgring 24 Hours, the Sebring 12 Hours, and stood on the podium at Le Mans.
“A new project is always exciting but for me to be driving for Ford in the WEC is just on another level,” Priaulx said. “I can’t wait to get behind the wheel of the car and start the preparations for the season. Any motorsport fan will remember the iconic Ford GT40 cars of the past, and for me to be part of this programme 50 years after Ford’s historic win at Le Mans is such a privilege.
World Endurance Championship Schedule:
Andy Priaulx
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Driver – FIA World Endurance Championship
@andypriaulx
Andy Priaulx MBE is best known for his three FIA World Touring Car Championship titles but the British driver has also won the FIA European Touring Car Championship and triumphed at the Nürburgring 24 Hour and Sebring 12 Hour races. From the moment he took up karting at the age of 11 he has competed in almost every formula from Hillclimb to Formula 3 and onto touring cars and sportscars.
“I’ve been privileged to race at Le Mans in the past so I know what an incredible event it is, both on and off the track. To go there this year with Ford, as they celebrate 50 years since that famous Le Mans victory, will be extra special.”
Date of birth: 8 August 1973
Place of birth: Guernsey, UK
Nationality: British
Lives: Guernsey, UK
Marital Status: Married, 1 son, 1 daughter
Languages: English
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1993/4
1991/2
Marino Franchitti
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Driver – FIA World Endurance Championship
@MFranchitti
For Marino Franchitti being a racing driver is part of his DNA. The Scottish racer began his career behind the wheel at the age of eight and has gone on to win some of the biggest events in sportcars racing. 2016 will be Marino’s first year in the FIA World Endurance Championship but not his first time at Le Mans as he has raced there on five occasions.
“Watching Le Mans on TV when I was young was what made me want to be a racing driver. It’s the biggest race in the world and the one I want to win more than any other. As a student of the history of motorsport, it’s a dream come true to be a part of Ford’s return 50 years after they began a run of four incredible victories. Hopefully we can add our own chapter to this story.”
Date of birth: 7 July 1978
Place of birth: West Lothian, Scotland
Nationality: British
Lives: Beaconsfield, England
Marital Status: Married, 1 son
Languages: English
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
Olivier Pla
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Driver – FIA World Endurance Championship
@olivierpla
Frenchman Olivier Pla is one of the world’s top sportscar racers. His career began in single-seaters and his talent took him all the way to GP2, just one step from Formula One. When Pla made the switch to sportscar racing he soon quickly became one to watch, known for his incredible precision, speed and consistency behind the wheel of a car.
“Le Mans is the best-known endurance race in the world and it is also the hardest. Everything has to be perfect to win that race. As a driver it is an honour to race for Ford at Le Mans, to fight for victory 50 years on from that historic win.”
Date of birth: 22 October 1981
Place of birth: Toulouse, France
Nationality: French
Lives: Toulouse, France
Marital Status: Single
Languages: French & English
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2015
• Nissan LMP1 Factory Driver
• TUDOR United Sports Car Championship with Ligier-Judd (Team Krohn Racing) - Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours. Took pole position at Sebring.
• Onroak test and development driver
2014
• FIA World Endurance Championship in Ligier-Nissan with Oak Racing. Runner up in LMP2 Drivers Endurance Trophy with four race wins, seven pole positions and seven fastest laps.
• Competed in six rounds of the TUDOR United Sports Car Championship in the Oak Racing Morgan-Nissan – winner at Mosport
• Onroak test and development driver
2013
• FIA World Endurance Championship in Oak Racing Morgan-Nissan. Second place in LMP2 Drivers Endurance Trophy and second in class (eighth place overall) and LMP2 pole position at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
2012
• FIA World Endurance Championship in Oak Racing Morgan-Nissan – Pole position at Sebring, four podiums and five fastest laps.
• Runner up in the European Le Mans Series with two podiums, one victory and one pole position.
2011
• Competed in the Team OAK Racing LMP1 car in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, taking third place overall at Silverstone and fourth at Petit Le Mans in the Oak/Pescarolo Judd LMP1.
• Le Mans Series & Le Mans 24 Hours in LMP1 / Zytek - Quifel-ASM
• Testing for Peugeot LMP1 – part of planned 2012 line-up
2010
• One win and two further podium finishes in the Le Mans Series – LMP2 Ginetta Zytek (Team Quifel-ASM). Sixth place in Championship.
• Seventh place at Le Mans 24 Hours in the LMP2 Ginetta-Zytek (Quifel-ASM)
2009
• Le Mans Series LM P2 Champion in Ginetta-Zytek LM P2 (Quifel-ASM) – Two wins, three pole positions and five fastest laps.
• Also raced LMP2 Ginetta-Zytek in Le Mans 24 Hours – DNF
2008
• Le Mans Series in the LMP2 Lola AER (Quifel-ASM)
• Fourth place in LM P2 at Le Mans 24 Hours, driving Lola AER for Quifel-ASM
• Raced at Petit Le Mans in the LM P1 Zytek factory
entry
• GP2 test driver
2007
Testing & development of the new GP2 car for 2008
2006
GP2 Series with David Price Racing
(partial season)
2005
GP2 Series with David Price Racing: Two wins
2004
World Series by Nissan: partial season with Carlin Motorsport - one win and two podium finishes.
2003
Raced in Formula 3 Euroseries with ASM
- finished third overall from field that included Kubica, Rosberg, Klein, Briscoe, Glock and Spengler.
2002
Third place in French Formula 3 Championship with ASM – two wins and six podiums
F3 Masters in Zandvoort – second place overall
2001
Made F3 debut in French Formula 3 Championship: 1 podium for Saulnier Racing
2000
Third place in the Renault Campus Championship with four wins, four pole positions and eight podiums
1999
Made motorsport debut - Winner of the Volant ELF La Filiere Selection
Stefan Mücke
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Driver – FIA World Endurance Championship
@StefanMuecke007
Stefan Mücke is a championship-winning sportscar driver. The German started his career in go-karts and single-seaters before honing his craft in the German DTM series. After eight years with Aston Martin, during which time he has won many of sportscar racing’s biggest events, Stefan switches to Ford for 2016 to take on the challenge of winning the Le Mans 24 Hours.
“Le Mans is a very special race for every driver. It is the one that we all want to win because it is such a difficult thing to do. I have come close in the past and now I hope that with Ford we can go all the way.”
Date of birth: 22 November 1981
Place of birth: Berlin, Germany
Nationality: German
Lives: Berlin, Germany
Marital Status: Married, 1 daughter
Languages: German & English
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007: First season in sportscar racing
2002 – 2006: Works driver for Mercedes Benz in DTM
2001
2000
1999: Mercedes Junior Team
1998
1997
1995 – 1997: Go-karting
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 197,000 employees and 67 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit www.corporate.ford.com.
is responsible for producing, selling and servicing Ford brand vehicles in 50 individual markets and employs approximately 53,000 employees at its wholly owned facilities and approximately 68,000 people when joint ventures and unconsolidated businesses are included. In addition to Ford Motor Credit Company, Ford Europe operations include Ford Customer Service Division and 24 manufacturing facilities (16 wholly owned or consolidated joint venture facilities and 8 unconsolidated joint venture facilities). The first Ford cars were shipped to Europe in 1903 – the same year Ford Motor Company was founded. European production started in 1911.
