Ford's Le Mans Hypercar using Coyote V8, sign Logan Sargeant

Fifty-eight years after the iconic 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, where Ford GT40s powered by thunderous big-block V8s humiliated the establishment, the Blue Oval is coming back to the top class—and it’s bringing a V8 with it.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

In 2027, Ford will field a factory LMDh hypercar in the FIA World Endurance Championship, built to challenge for overall victory at La Sarthe once again. At the heart of the machine beats a naturally aspirated 5.4-liter Coyote V8 (pictured above)—evolved from the same architecture that powers the current Mustang GT3 racer but enlarged and optimized for prototype endurance duty.

Ford Performance made the choice crystal clear: reliability reigns supreme in 24-hour racing. “Simple is good for endurance racing,” said program manager Dan Sayers. By sticking with a naturally aspirated design—no turbos, no intercoolers, no added plumbing—the team minimizes complexity and potential failures over a grueling double-around-the-clock race. The engine will pair with the standard Bosch hybrid system, delivering a Balance of Performance-targeted output between 650 and 700 horsepower.

That Coyote DNA traces straight back to the Mustang GT3 program, where a restricted version of the V8 already proves durable and competitive. The hypercar variant keeps the family lineage intact while adding hybrid boost for the modern era.

Behind the wheel, Ford has assembled a blend of proven endurance expertise and fresh high-downforce talent. Leading the charge is veteran Mike “Rocky” Rockenfeller, the two-time Le Mans class winner and former DTM champion whose prototype experience will be invaluable during development and race stints.

Joining him is rising star Sebastian Priaulx, son of three-time touring car champion Andy Priaulx, who has already shown pace in GT racing and brings youthful aggression to the lineup.

The headline signing, though, is Logan Sargeant—the most recent American to race in Formula 1. Fresh from his Williams F1 tenure, Sargeant brings cutting-edge single-seater speed and technical feedback to a program that demands precision in high-downforce corners.

Ford Hypercar drivers (L to R) Mike ‘Rocky’ Rockenfeller, Logan Sargeant and Sebastian Priaulx

“Having an American back in a Ford at Le Mans feels right,” Sayers said. “It’s a nod to giants like Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, who showed the world in 1967 what happens when American grit meets global ambition.”

With the Oreca chassis already selected, Red Bull Ford Powertrains assisting on hybrid integration, and the Coyote V8 set to fire up in combined testing soon, the countdown to Ford’s hypercar debut has begun. The first shakedown laps are planned for later in 2026, with the competitive bow coming at the 2027 Qatar season opener—before the real target: overall glory under the floodlights at Le Mans.

After all, as one Ford executive put it: “If you think we’re going back to Le Mans without a V8, you’re out of your mind.” The roar is coming.