Ford Motor Company has revealed two of its key building blocks for its boldest endurance racing initiative in decades. The Dearborn icon confirmed its long-awaited return to the top tier of international sports car racing in 2027, and has now unveiled two essential components of its upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar effort: a technical […]
Ford Motor Company has revealed two of its key building blocks for its boldest endurance racing initiative in decades. The Dearborn icon confirmed its long-awaited return to the top tier of international sports car racing in 2027, and has now unveiled two essential components of its upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar effort: a technical partnership with renowned French chassis constructor ORECA, and the appointment of motorsports veteran Dan Sayers to lead the program.
In an announcement made on Friday at Le Mans, at the largest gathering of racing Mustangs ever assembled at the Circuit de la Sarthe for two Invitational Challenge support races in which he’s competing, Ford President and CEO Jim Farley delivered his announcement with conviction: The goal is clear, Ford is coming back to win Le Mans.
“Bringing Ford back to the top class at Le Mans has always been a dream for many of us, including our Executive Chair Bill Ford,” said Farley. “To be able to partner with ORECA is a proud moment for Ford. We are coming back to Le Mans to win, and we aren’t making that a secret.”
Ford’s rivalry at Le Mans with Ferrari is one of the most iconic in motorsports history. It began in the 1960s when Ford, spurned by a failed attempt to purchase Ferrari, launched an all-out assault on Le Mans. With the GT40, Ford toppled Ferrari’s dominance, famously going 1-2-3 in 1966 and winning four consecutive times through 1969. That era redefined American ambition in international motorsports, and was rekindled by the 2019 blockbuster racing movie Ford v Ferrari, which starred Matt Damon and Christian Bale.
The fact that Ferrari has won the past two editions of Le Mans might just have been the trigger to renew their epic rivalry, while its domestic nemesis, General Motors, scored a front row lockout for this year’s running via its Cadillac brand on Thursday night.
“On Sunday, it will be exactly 56 years since we last took the top step of the overall podium here,” added Farley. “That is long enough. In 2027, we are coming with the same level of expectation, and we are entrusting ORECA to help us take on Ferrari and the other top-class teams as we did back in the 1960s.”
While Ford returned to the race in the GTE-Pro ranks in 2016 with class victory at Le Mans, and more recently with Mustang GT3 entries, this new Hypercar project re-establishes the brand’s intent to once again fight for outright victory once more. As the selected chassis partner, ORECA brings a competitive track record to the effort.
Founded by Hugues de Chaunac in 1973, the French engineering powerhouse has amassed nearly 240 wins in LMP2 competition, including 10 straight Le Mans victories in the category. Their presence in Hypercar, already supporting multiple manufacturers, makes them a natural partner to produce a serious contender for the Blue Oval.
“We are honored that Ford has chosen ORECA to design the future WEC Hypercar for their return to the top tier of endurance racing,” said de Chaunac. “This strategic partnership is a key part of our ongoing commitment to the highest level of racing, and to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.”
Steering the technical direction of the program will be Dan Sayers, a respected name in international motorsport with a career spanning Formula 1, WEC and World Rally Championship. Sayers joins Ford from Red Bull Ford Powertrains, where he played a key role in the development of the 2026-spec F1 hybrid power unit. He previously served as Technical Director at Aston Martin Racing, where he was instrumental in the design of the V12 Vantage and multiple Le Mans class victories.
“To lead Ford back to its spiritual home at Le Mans was a challenge I could not turn down,” said Sayers. “Having previously led Aston Martin to multiple Le Mans class victories, the opportunity to take overall honors with Ford is something very special.”
Steering the technical direction of the program will be Dan Sayers, a respected name in international motorsport with a career spanning Formula 1, WEC and World Rally Championship. Sayers joins Ford from Red Bull Ford Powertrains, where he played a key role in the development of the 2026-spec F1 hybrid power unit. He previously served as Technical Director at Aston Martin Racing, where he was instrumental in the design of the V12 Vantage and multiple Le Mans class victories.
His appointment underscores the program’s seriousness – Ford is clearly recruiting from the top shelf to ensure every component, from engineering to execution, is ready for the pressures of Le Mans.
Ford’s return in 2027 isn’t just a nostalgic play; it’s a strategic re-entry into the highest echelon of motorsport at a time when the Hypercar class is attracting an unprecedented level of manufacturer engagement. The convergence of luxury, heritage, and performance embodied by this program makes it especially compelling to collectors and motorsport devotees alike.
NASCAR starting lineup: Shane van Gisbergen wins Cup pole at Sonoma
Shane van Gisbergen scored his third consecutive pole on a road course, posting the fastest lap in Cup qualifying Saturday at Sonoma Raceway. The Trackhouse Racing driver won the pole and race at Mexico City and repeated the feat last weekend in the Chicago Street Race. Saturday, he toured the 1.99-mile road course north of […]
The three key contenders in the headlining Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3) class delivered an entertaining opening 45-minute race to the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. At the end, championship leader Valentino Catalano in the No. 30 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 returned to the top for his fourth […]
The three key contenders in the headlining Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3) class delivered an entertaining opening 45-minute race to the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
At the end, championship leader Valentino Catalano in the No. 30 Gebhardt Intralogistics Motorsports Duqueine D08 returned to the top for his fourth win of the season in seven rounds.
The complexion of the race changed before it even started with Catalano’s Gebhardt teammate, Oscar Tunjo in his No. 31 Duqueine D08, moved to the rear of the P3 field from pole following a technical infraction discovered in post-qualifying technical inspection. That promoted Jonathan Woolridge to pole in the No. 54 MLT Motorsports Ligier JS P320, with Catalano second and Tunjo back in fifth.
Woolridge led early but Tunjo made his way back to third behind Catalano. Catalano made a bold pass on Woolridge for the lead on lap eight. He passed Woolridge around the outside of the right-handed Turn 8, which set him up to have the inside for the subsequent left-handed Turn 9.
Tunjo followed through for second four laps later on lap 12 and emerged just over three seconds behind Catalano and began his pursuit.
“Driving the wheels off the car” can be used colloquially to describe a driver gaining pace on their rival. In Tunjo’s case, the phrase was first metaphorical – he closed from 3s to within 0.3s on lap 18 – and then literal, when a lap later his left front tire and wheel departed the No. 31 car exiting Turn 10 onto the front straight.
That brought out a full-course caution which closed the field. Absent his teammate, Catalano brought home the win by 2.331s over Woolridge with Bronze Cup winner Brian Thienes third in his No. 77 Forte Racing Ligier JS P320.
“After the pass I was just managing my race,” Catalano said. “I wanted to know I had a gap, and I know the entire degradation is really high here, so I took it quite easy. Then I saw that Oscar was pushing and then I was thinking, ‘Oh, should I push now as well?’
“Then suddenly I saw he was in the wall and with the tire lost. It’s really unfortunate for him because there would have been a really fun battle, I think. It was a good race. It’s really tricky around here to manage everything. Degradation is high and I had some other issues in the car, which got worse at the end, so I just had to bring it home.”
Grand Touring Daytona X (GTDX) and Grand Sport X (GSX) classes were straightforward affairs, with both polesitters leading flag-to-flag en route to victory. However, drama in both classes occurred for the final podium places.
In GTDX, Jake Walker enjoyed a successful race with his fourth win in the last five races aboard the No. 6 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 and won by 12.440s.
“We had a good start, and I got a bit of a gap, which was key,” Walker said. “I just kept putting down this lap time and looking forward. The Turner Motorsport BMW was ripping right out of the gate. This is my first time here and it’s an awesome track, man. It’s fast and it takes a lot out of you.”
Behind them, the championship complexion changed after the restart inside the final 10 minutes. Title rivals AJ Muss (No. 66 Af Corse Ferrari 296 GT3) and Adam Adelson (No. 24 Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R) collided exiting Turn 10, with Muss assessed a 10s post-race time penalty for incident responsibility to drop from second to third.
Adelson was promoted to second, which unofficially gives him the championship lead by 20 points over Muss. Samantha Tan (No. 38 ST Racing BMW M4 GT3) marked her return to her home country venue at CTMP with the Bronze Cup win in fourth.
GSX was similarly controlled by championship leader Kiko Porto in his No. 8 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, who took his fifth win of the season by 8.597s. The team recovered from missing most of the first practice session on Friday due to a mechanical issue that Porto explained nearly set him back on his first visit to CTMP.
“We had a similar problem to what took us from victory lane at COTA,” Porto said. “We were a little bit worried that would stay happening throughout the weekend, but the team did an amazing job to fix the car.
“In the beginning of the race, I was a little bit more aware of controlling the pace. We were able to make an almost eight-second gap. The yellow came, but I still had tires to the finish.”
Steven Clemons finished second in his No. 76 BSI Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2 while Chris Walsh leapt to third and the Bronze Cup win in his No. 22 TWOth Autosport Porsche 718 GT4 RS CS following a last-lap issue for Ian Porter in his No. 68 RAFA Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, who slowed on course and dropped to eighth in GSX.
Sunday’s second VP Racing Challenge race of the weekend is at 11:10 a.m. ET and local time, streaming on Peacock, IMSA.TV and IMSA’s Official YouTube channel.
Sonoma Toyota / Save Mart 350 NASCAR Practice 5,10 and 15 Lap Average Speed Cheat Sheet Heat Chart
NOTE: Blue indicates the driver is from Group 1. Related Ryan Rantz President, founder and visionary of “ifantasyrace.com, the way you fantasy race”. Follow me on Twitter and LIKE my Facebook page. Sonoma Toyota / Save Mart 350 NASCAR Practice 5,10 and 15 Lap Average Speed Cheat Sheet Link 0
Suburban Propane Named Title Sponsor of “Track to Table” at Sonoma Raceway Benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities
WHIPPANY, N.J. and SONOMA, Calif., July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH), a nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives, is pleased to announce its role […]
WHIPPANY, N.J. and SONOMA, Calif., July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: SPH), a nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas, fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives, is pleased to announce its role as the main sponsor of Track to Table, an exclusive event uniting the charitable, culinary, and motorsports communities, to kick off Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series weekend at Sonoma Raceway.
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This debut Track to Table event will take place on Friday, July 11, at the iconic Turn 11 Club at Sonoma Raceway, merging the adrenaline of NASCAR with the flair of fine dining, live music, and charitable giving. All proceeds will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities Sonoma, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of Sonoma County children and families in critical need.
“Track to Table is a perfect blend of purpose and celebration, and we’re honored to empower such a meaningful evening that supports children and families,” said Nandini Sankara, Spokesperson, Suburban Propane. “As a proud partner of Speedway Motorsports and a long-time supporter of community-focused initiatives through our SuburbanCares platform, Suburban Propane is delighted to help bring this remarkable new tradition to life.”
Through its SuburbanCares pillar, Suburban Propane is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. Supporting Track to Table aligns with the company’s broader mission to fuel positive change, champion local organizations, and support programs that directly impact children and families in need.
“We’re excited to kick off race weekend by celebrating the incredible food and wine that make Sonoma so special,” said Courtney Kiser, Director of Speedway Children’s Charities Sonoma. “We’re grateful to partner with those who share our deep commitment to helping vulnerable children lead safe, healthy, and fulfilling lives—no matter the challenges they face.”
Guests will indulge in an unforgettable culinary experience of exquisitely prepared dishes with wine pairings provided by Viansa Winery, Three Fat Guys Wines and Caymus Suisun. The evening will also feature an acoustic performance by country music artist Tim Dugger, a live charity auction and memorable surprises throughout, making it one of the most anticipated new events of the summer.
About Suburban Propane: Suburban Propane Partners, L.P. (“Suburban Propane”) is a publicly traded master limited partnership listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Headquartered in Whippany, New Jersey, Suburban Propane has been in the customer service business since 1928 and is a nationwide distributor of propane, renewable propane, renewable natural gas (“RNG”), fuel oil and related products and services, as well as a marketer of natural gas and electricity and producer of and investor in low carbon fuel alternatives, servicing the energy needs of approximately 1 million residential, commercial, governmental, industrial and agricultural customers through approximately 700 locations across 42 state.
Suburban Propane is supported by three core pillars: (1) Suburban Commitment – showcasing Suburban Propane’s almost 100-year legacy, an ongoing commitment to the highest standards for dependability, flexibility, and reliability that underscores Suburban Propane’s commitment to excellence in customer service; (2) SuburbanCares – highlighting continued dedication to giving back to local communities across Suburban Propane’s national footprint; and (3) Go Green with Suburban Propane – promoting the clean burning and versatile nature of propane and renewable propane as a bridge to a green energy future and investing in the next generation of innovative, renewable energy alternatives.
For additional information on Suburban Propane, please visit www.suburbanpropane.com.
ABOUT SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS: Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.
ABOUT SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES: The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities remains true to the ideals it was founded upon in 1982: To care for children in educational, financial, social and medical needs to help them lead productive lives. SCC provides funding for hundreds of nonprofit organizations nationwide that meet children’s direct needs. Its vision is that every child has the same opportunities no matter what obstacle they are facing.
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Myles Rowe becomes first black driver to win in INDY NXT – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic
NEWTON, Iowa (WISH) — The history-making continues for driver Myles Rowe. The 25-year-old was the first African-American to win an open-wheel championship, securing the USF Pro 2000 title in 2023. Now, he’s taken that success to the next level in the IndyCar ladder system — literally. Saturday, Rowe won his first INDY NXT race at […]
NEWTON, Iowa (WISH) — The history-making continues for driver Myles Rowe.
The 25-year-old was the first African-American to win an open-wheel championship, securing the USF Pro 2000 title in 2023. Now, he’s taken that success to the next level in the IndyCar ladder system — literally.
Saturday, Rowe won his first INDY NXT race at Iowa Speedway — making him the first black driver to win in IndyCar’s developmental series.
“It’s so good,” Rowe said. “We’ve been working a minute for this, and we knew we had the pace. It was about waiting for the last half of the race and seeing what we could do with it.”
Rowe passed rookie Dennis Hauger with 14 laps to go in the midst of lapped traffic to take the lead, and he never looked back. The Abel Motorsports with Force Indy driver took the checkered flag by a margin of 1.3927 seconds. Hauger, INDY NXT’s current points leader, finished second.
With the win, Rowe moves to fourth in the standings with five races remaining on the schedule.
“We don’t stop here — I’m looking for a lot more than this,” Rowe said. “But I’m glad we could get this (win), for sure.”
Rowe adds this to his already lengthy list of accomplishments. He won 11 races in the USF Championships series. He was also the first black driver to win an IndyCar-sanctioned race during his first season in the USF2000 series.
This is his second season in the INDY NXT series, where he’s racked up four podium finishes and, now, one win.
Shane van Gisbergen weighs challenges of NASCAR vs. Supercars, reveals aspect he hates
Shane van Gisbergen made his name racing in the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand. However, he’s seen his star rise since coming to North America to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series. With two wins under his belt in 2025 and three overall in the Cup Series, van Gisbergen is locked into the […]
Shane van Gisbergen made his name racing in the Supercars Championship in Australia and New Zealand. However, he’s seen his star rise since coming to North America to drive in the NASCAR Cup Series.
With two wins under his belt in 2025 and three overall in the Cup Series, van Gisbergen is locked into the playoffs and ready to compete for a championship this season. After his latest win in Chicago, he joined Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour, where he spoke with Kevin Harvick about some key challenges in the difference between NASCAR and Supercars.
“It’s probably more intense, because it’s every single week and the challenge is so different every week,” SVG told Harvick. “Like it’s not like you’re doing mile-and-a-halves each week, you’re doing a different style of racetrack every single week, and the preparation and stuff is so different. Also, instead of seeing two teammates’ data, I can see everyone’s data. So, it’s a lot more intense.
“On a road course, I hate it, because everyone can see my stuff and it’s all people seem to be talking about on the weekend. But especially when you go to a Pocono or a Martinsville, you study someone like Denny Hamlin, who’s amazing at those tracks, and the tendencies he has, or Chase Elliott at Martinsville. There’s some guys who really stand out. But when you go to like a Vegas or something, it could be anyone. You know, so there’s so much stuff you got to look at now.”
That’s an interesting tidbit shared by the New Zealander, and something that doesn’t come up immediately when thinking about differences between the two racing leagues. As for the car itself, SVG revealed that they’re similar on paper, but there are still some intricacies he had to adjust to.
“They’re similar on paper,” SVG added, regarding the cars. “But the way they drive, I think the lock-diff is the biggest difference. Having an open diff here makes a big difference. You know, you don’t have to — the technique was so unique in a supercar, with the heel and toe and running all the rear brake you could. It’s a bit opposite in this car. You run as much front as you can. People make a big deal out of the right-foot braking, but it really does nothing in this car.”
Alas, the NASCAR Cup Series is happy to have Shane van Gisbergen, as he’s certainly upped the intensity on road courses. He’ll have a shot at win No. 3 of the season this weekend in Sonoma, with another track-type in his wheelhouse taking center stage in California.