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Vintage Car Racing with LTN in 2013

From the Goodwood Revival in England to the Monterey Reunion in California, LTN now brings the latest vintage racing action our readers through stories, driver profiles, photo-video galleries and results.

Ford GT40 Race at Goodwood Revival 2013, a First

The Goodwood Revival 2013 will stage a race for significant and authentic racing Ford GT40s, marking the 1st time that a dedicated competition has been held for these iconic Ford race cars.

The Whitsun Trophy race at the 2013 Goodwood Revival, scheduled for 13-15 September, will celebrate 50 yrs since the beginning of the Ford GT40 program.

The Ford racing project began in Y 1963, when Henry Ford II, snubbed by Enzo Ferrari over the sale of his company to the US auto giant ,set out to beat the “Commendatore” at his game, with his sights set firmly on victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours race.

The 1st GT40 was finished in early Y 1964, the racer was a development of the Lola Mk6 GT that 1st raced in Y 1963. After dismal results with the GT40′s in the 1st 2 yrs due to mechanical failure, Ford Advanced Vehicles FAV handed the program over to Holman Moody and Carroll Shelby to compete against Ferrari, ,.

The GT40 was created to meet with new manufacturer prototype regulations at Le Mans, and the Ford went on to become an endurance racing icon, winning the 24 Hours race at Circuit la Sarthe 4 yrs running from Ys 1966 to 1969.

The early cars were named “Ford GT”. The name “GT40″ was the name of Ford’s project to prepare the cars for the international endurance racing circuit, and the quest to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The first 12 “prototype” vehicles carried serial numbers GT-101 through GT-112. The “production” began and the subsequent cars, the MkI, MkII, and MkIIIs, (with the exception of the MkIV, which were numbered J1-J10) were numbered GT40P/1000 through GT40P/1145, were officially “GT40s”. The name of Ford’s project, and the serial numbers dispel the story that GT40 was a nickname. A 107 were produced as coupe and roadsters.

In Y 1966, with Henry Ford II attending, the MkII GT40 gave Ford with the 1st overall Le Mans victory for an American manufacturer, and the 1st victory for an American manufacturer at a major European race since Jimmy Murphy´s triumph with Duesenberg at the 1921 French Grand Prix.

My long time friend, Charles Agaipou was the Ford team captain under Carroll Shelby winning in Ys 1966 and 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans victory, the most famous victories.

Ford closed the project after the Y 1967 season.

The contemporary Ford GT is a modern homage to the iconic GT40 The Whitsun Trophy race promises to make a super event, and a fine tribute to one of the world’s most revered sports car having a long association with Goodwood, both at the Motor Circuit in period, and the Goodwood Revival, with examples racing here since the 1st event in Y 1998.

Tickets, grandstand seats, camping and other products for the 2013 Goodwood Revival can be purchased via the Goodwood website, or the Ticket Hotline at +44 (0)1243 755055. http://www.goodwood.co.uk/motorsport/motorsport.aspx