A unique celebration and homage to the 1966 Le Mans GT40 MK II was unveiled by Ford last week.
The 2022 Ford GT Holman Moody Edition pays homage to the famous car that made the 1-2-3 sweep at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. It also pays tribute to Holman Moody, the American race car manufacturer instrumental to the success of the Ford team in 1966.
“Of all the Ford GT Heritage Edition liveries we’ve done, the Holman Moody Heritage Edition’s can’t-miss signature gold and red theme is an epic tribute to our 1966 Le Mans finish,” Ford GT programme manager Mike Severson said.
“Inspired by one of the most well-known Ford GT40 race cars, this latest Ford GT honours the Holman Moody race team’s knowhow and ability to out-innovate global competitors.”
After the 1965 Le Mans race, Ford formed a new Le Mans committee and tasked Holman Moody and Shelby American to rework the GT40 MK II.
Driven more than 265 laps over eight days in January 1966, chassis No. P/1016 became a laboratory on wheels as the teams worked to redesign brakes, suspension and tyre setups to be more competitive, even trying an experimental automatic transmission.
They had one goal – to win at the 1966 Le Mans race.
The new Ford GT’s track-capable hardware, paddle-shifting seven-speed dual clutch transmission and carbon fibre body continue this tradition of excellence.
The unique gold and red livery of the limited-edition supercar includes signature Oxford White roundels with the number five stamped on the doors, hood and rear wing – all matching the appearance of the 1966 Ford GT40 raced by Holman Moody.
Exposed gloss carbon fibre components are prominent, including on the 20-inch wheels, front splitter, side sills, mirrors, engine louvers and rear diffuser.
Carbon fibre carries into the cabin, appearing on door sills, console and registers, and even features a cleaver matte roundel on the door panels.
The new supercar is the latest in the Ford GT Heritage Edition series, including the 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition honouring the Alan Mann Ford GT MK I lightweight experimental prototype that helped pave the way for the 1-2-3 sweep at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 2022 Ford GT ’64 Prototype Heritage Edition celebrating Ford GT’s roots and the earliest five original Ford GT prototypes, and the 2019 Ford GT ’68 Gulf Livery Heritage Edition commemorating Ford GT40 MK I No. 9 race car that was victorious at Le Mans in 1968.