Ford has selected French manufacturer Oreca as its chassis partner for its forthcoming LMDh-rules Hypercar, the American company has announced.
In addition, former program director of Red Bull Ford Powertrains, Dan Sayers, has been named as programme chief for Ford’s Hypercar programme.
Oreca already underpins the LMDh cars from Alpine and Acura. While the Alpine A424 competes in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Acura ARX-06 races in the IMSA Sportscar Championship.
This means the two Oreca-based chassis have not been pitted against each other. They’ll be joined in the Oreca ranks by Genesis next year, whose GMR-001 Hypercar will also have Oreca underpinnings. But, Genesis will only compete in WEC in 2026, before maybe joining IMSA in 2027.
The American manufacturer will then join WEC in 2027, with its unnamed Oreca-based car.
“Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,” said Ford president and CEO, Jim Farley.
“To be able to partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are coming back to Le Mans to win, and we aren’t making that a secret. On Sunday, it will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium here. That is long enough.
“In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did back in the 1960’s.”
Oreca has manufactured over a hundred of its 07 LMP2 chassis for various teams across the globe. The French company is a well known motorsport chassis manufacturer across the world.
Sayers to lead Ford in WEC Hypercar
Meanwhile, Dan Sayers is joining Ford, departing his role at Red Bull Ford Powertrains. He played an instrumental part in the F1 power unit program for 2026, from the very beginning of the development.
Before that he spent 10 years at Prodrive, with the factory Aston Martin Racing programme. He started at Prodrive in the GT4 team, before moving up to GT3. He then led the design and development of the V12 Vantage.
Instead, he’ll head up Ford’s factory Hypercar programme.
“Ford Performance is taking on so many different challenges around the racing world, but to lead Ford back to its spiritual home at Le Mans was a challenge I could not turn down,” said Dan Sayers, Ford Performance WEC Hypercar program manager.
“Having previously led Aston Martin to multiple Le Mans class victories, the opportunity to take overall honours with Ford is something very special. I have loved working on the F1 program with Red Bull Ford Powertrains so this feels a lot like joining a different part of the same family.”
‘Key building blocks’ in place
“The chassis partner and the program head for any major factory program are foundational elements.” said Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance.
“ORECA and Dan Sayers give us the right platform to build this entire program. We have all been working closely since these decisions were made, and every step has proven correct.
“We are two years away from sitting on the grid at Le Mans with our Ford WEC Hypercar program and we now have two of the key building blocks to a successful return to prototype racing at this great race.”
Ford last took the overall win at Le Mans 56 years ago with the iconic GT40. Ever since the American manufacturer has focused on class victories in the GT ranks. But, now it is coming back to contend for the overall win in 2027.
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