Le Mans is Le Mans,
it’s the Super Bowl of sports car racing.
Feels extra special to be part of this Ford return.
Everybody's raring to go.
You try, you want to win and you do your best and see
what the outcome is.
50 years on from the 1-2-3 finish in ’66
and we’re back for another crack.
A lot of teams the first year here just try to finish the race.
Well we show up at the race track every day to win.
Ultimately we’d like to win with one of these four
Fords we have here.
The Vingt Quatre at Le Mans will start behind the
safety car.
I'm trying to remember the last time we had a start that
was this wet.
Tricolor is going to be waved by Brad Pitt
as we watch the 67 Ford going into the garage.
That’s not a good sign.
We are racing. The 84th running of the
24 Hours of Le Mans is underway.
First couple laps are under safety car conditions just
due to the heavy rain. I think the weather fronts going
be cleared out here shortly and then we should
actually go racing.
The Ford still in the pits and so now they’re
going to form up at the end of the pit lane
and join the back of the crocodiles.
We had the problem at the start with the 67 car with the
shifter so it’s a couple laps down right now, but you
know, it’s early so we’ll run that on a different strategy.
It looks like we’re probably getting close to the
race start. The rain has stopped. I wouldn’t be surprised
if the next time around we go racing.
Officially the first racing lap of the 84th running of the
Le Mans 24 Hours and we are racing. It is go.
69 Ford is running second right now
with Westbrook behind the wheel.
The lap times are good. They’re probably the fastest
cars on track right now.
Conditions are still pretty tricky. Still a bit wet off-lines.
Lots of focus at the moment.
(car engines)
So far it’s rained, it’s dried out and here at the 68 car
we’re about 20 seconds back from the leader which is
our team car the 69.
(car engine)
I was leading the whole race in the beginning like after
the safety car. That’s why we decided to do one more
lap to be safe. In that moment we lost a little bit of time
because we came in too late on our rear tire but, the
pace was super quick. I love the car. Let's go after them.
The number 82 Ferrari, Matteo Malucelli
is going to lose the lead.
Seven hours in and performance is really good.
We’re first, second and fourth. Everything is running
pretty well right now.
People are all excited and we seem to be doing well at
this stage of the race. I would only suggest to everyone
that we have a long way to go.
Well right now it’s Ford and Ferrari but of course that
could all change at a moment. So right now I’m just
focused on getting through the race.
This is the leading Ford in GTE Pro, Dirk Muller.
Toni Vilander is in second place, he’s 16 ½ seconds
between them.
The night in Le Mans is really interesting.
The drivers are now into a rhythm and we have to make
sure they stay in that rhythm.
We look good. The Ferraris have been up there.
The Astons have been up there.
Anything can happen here. It’s going to be a long night.
They got really backed up in a safety car procedure
a couple of hours ago. We lost two minutes and the lead
with it. We’re battling through right now trying to make
it back out on track.
We had the number lights go out on the 66 car,
had to stop twice to do that. The 69 car just got caught
with safety cars.
(radio) Information to the pit lane, drive thru penalty on car 68
for having the engine running during the refueling.
We just had a steering wheel problem on the 68 car
and we couldn’t shut down the engine during a pit stop
You know, we have more than 6 hours to go.
We’re running second, third and fifth but we still have a
lot of time to make it up.
The Ford GT and a Ferrari,
battling it out for the victory in the GT class and
there is nothing to choose between them.
It’s just like good old times isn’t it?
Here we go. Here comes the pass.
He goes to the outside.
We were able to catch him and finally pass him.
We’ll try to stay out in front of him right now.
There’s three seconds between them.
It’ll be a dog fight to the end.
You’re definitely going to take more risks to try and win
this race, because if you ask me who finished second
last year I have no idea.
It's just a spin I hope.
That is the racing competition Ferrari.
Same place as Kobayashi. That gives Ford
the upper hand.
Now that the Ferrari’s made that little spin,
and given us a little breather.
I’m sure the 69 is on him to try and bring in a 1-2.
34 minutes to go, and we’re running one, three and four.
I think we’re about a minute ahead.
We just need to keep putting in some good laps,
and we'll be in good shape.
Any mistake throws the whole thing away.
It’s very nerve wrecking.
(car engines)
(uplifting music plays)
When we approved this program we did it to come race
here at Le Mans.
I think we proved it was the right decision.
This is as good as it gets.
The reason the car was created was to win this race
50 years after the infamous 1-2-3, and we did it.
I think the pictures talk for themselves.
Many emotions rushing through, and such an honor and
a proud moment to be associated to that awesome
program and to represent Ford.
I feel great! I feel like we did what we came here to do.
We did it for our employees and our families and
everybody who loves Ford. I hope they are proud of us.
The car’s a success. The whole operation is a success.
The Ford GT is a success.
We are One Ford and we accomplished that goal
and we won. It’s just amazing.
Well I’m going to go up to the victory stand now
and collect the trophy, and after that we’ll probably have
one hell of a party.
(uplifting music plays)