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Ford Names First Hypercar Drivers, Confirms V8 LMDh for 2027 WEC

The program centers on an in-house V8 mated to an ORECA chassis under a new Banbury team on a compressed path to a 2027 debut.

Overview

  • Logan Sargeant joins Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx as the first confirmed drivers for Ford’s 2027 WEC Hypercar entry.
  • The LMDh will use an ORECA-based chassis and a naturally aspirated 5.4-litre Coyote V8 developed in-house, paired with the class’s spec hybrid system from Bosch, Xtrac and Williams Advanced Engineering.
  • Ford will run the operation itself from a new Banbury, UK base led by Dan Sayers, with first on-track running targeted for August 2026.
  • Priaulx and Rockenfeller will prepare in 2026 ELMS LMP2 with Proton Competition, while Sargeant will race a full WEC LMGT3 season with Proton’s #88 Mustang and contest the Daytona 24 Hours in Era Motorsport’s LMP2.
  • Ford still has seats to fill for 2027, with media reporting that additional signings are expected and suggesting Porsche-contracted talent as potential targets.