Slot.it CW16 Ford GT40 n.9 1st 24h Le Mans 1968

Drivers : P. Rodriguez and L. Bianchi

The Ford GT40 is one of the most famous cars in Le Mans history, having won the 24 Hours four times in a row. In 1966 it was with the MK II version, in 1967 with the MK IV, in 1968 and 1969 with the first one, MK I.

It was built to compete against Ferrari, who had won Le Mans six times in a row from 1960 to 1965. The development of ‘Mk I’ was carried mainly by Ford Advanced Vehicle in England, joined in 1965 by Carroll Shelby. It was a car built for racing, but also for road circulation; the name ‘GT40’ comes from the height from ground, which is 40 inches.

The car had a steel and aluminum semi-monocoque chassis, a body made of fiberglass and a V8 engine, originally 4.7 liter, than enlarged to a 4.9 liter. The blue and orange car managed to win the race with a 5-lap lead (67 km) after 24 hours of racing.

The GT40 was also the first car in Le Mans history to win the race more than once, with the same chassis #1075, in 1968 and 1969.

In 1968 the Ford GT40 achieved its third consecutive victory, with car n. 9 driven by Mexican Pedro Rodriguez and Belgian Lucien Bianchi.