The Legend of the Ford GT40 (Preston Lerner)

Few cars capture the essence of American performance and racing heritage quite like the Ford GT. In his book Ford GT: How Ford Silenced the Critics, Humbled Ferrari, and Conquered Le Mans, author Preston Lerner takes readers on a thrilling deep dive into the history, engineering, and racing legacy of this iconic machine. From the groundbreaking GT40 that stunned the motorsport world in the 1960s to the modern GT’s triumphant return to Le Mans in 2016, Preston masterfully weaves together the stories of the visionaries, drivers, and engineers who made it all possible. In this episode, Preston explores the book’s most fascinating insights, discuss Ford’s relentless pursuit of victory, and uncover what makes the GT one of the most legendary race cars of all time. 

This episode was originally recorded in 2017 at International Motor Racing Research Center and has been remastered for this podcast.

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00:00 The Legacy of the Ford GT
01:07 Welcome and Speaker Introduction + Don Caps' Remarks
03:48 Preston Lerner Takes the Stage
04:55 The Birth of the Ford GT40
05:24 Ford's Racing Strategy
06:19 The Ferrari Negotiations
08:25 The GT40 Development
13:06 Challenges and Early Races
16:42 Shelby American's Involvement
21:45 The 1966 Le Mans 24 Hours
30:25 The Controversial Dead Heat Finish
35:05 Post-Race Reactions and Ford's Future Plans
36:22 The 1967 Season and Ferrari's Challenge the 330 P4
39:36 The Tragic Testing of the J-Car
40:53 The Mark IV's Triumph at Le Mans 1967
46:29 Ford's Exit and Legacy in Racing
47:45 Q&A Session and Closing Remarks

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This episode is part of our HISTORY OF MOTORSPORTS SERIES and is sponsored in part by: The International Motor Racing Research Center (IMRRC), The Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), The Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Argetsinger Family.