Thursday, June 13, 2019

LE Mans: IMSA Sends another Strong Boatload 'O Competitors to France



Will the Ford GT in its various Throwback Retro liveries be victorious in its class one last time this year? (Image source: speedcafe.com)
As once again this year, the IMSA's Weathertech SportsCar Championship will be well represented at arguably the world's premiere Sports Car race, the legendary 24 Heurs du Mans.

As it appears from a very quick glance, that Thar will be eight cars from Americre' competing, or is it Thee Number Nine? Led by a two-by-two pairing from Corvette, Ford and Porsche respectively. Along with Risi Competizione sending its lone Ferrari 488 GTE ride, all contesting the top tier GTE Pro category.

And this doesn't include other Drivers from various IMSA Teams Moonlighting aboard various other Le Mans mounts.


Meanwhile, a fifth Ford GT will make its competition debut in the GTE Am category, when Ben Keating's No. 85 Wynns liveried machine, with the sponsor celebrating its 80th Anniversary takes to the Circuit de la Sarthe's tarmac this weekend.


As apparently I missed noticing the #62 Weathertech Racing's Ferrari 488 GTE contesting this year's GTE Am category.

Whilst sadly, this year's epic 87th running of Le Mans will be the Works Ford GT's final appearance in the World Endurance Championship, as Ford is effectively pulling the plug upon its four year Factory effort on both sides of Ye proverbial Puddle by season's end.

Although hopefully the door will be left ajar for it to continue racing as a Privateer; Err Customer entry a la Keating Motorsports next year?

Thus FoMoCo' will send off its four car Ford GT Armada in fashion by paying Homage to its iconic Ford GT 40's of Yesteryear - With four distinct Throwback Retro liveries between the two Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) WEC entries, No's 66-67.

And the two CGR IMSA runners No's 68-69 with IndyCar "Ringers" Sealmeister B', aka Sebastain Bourdais and Scotty "Thee Iceman 2.0" Dixon behind the Keyboards.


As this will be the last time to watch Ford Factory Driver Joey Hand or others chasing thou Competizione at Circuit de la Sarthe for the foreseeable future...