Ford is on a quest to reclaim racing glory at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans, a race the Blue Oval dominated in the mid-to-late 1960s with the original GT40. Though today’s thoroughly modern Ford GT may bear little in common with its predecessor, the Chip Ganassi Racing team is doing its damndest to make sure that the Blue Oval takes the checkered flag for the GT’s 50th anniversary celebration.
But glory doesn’t come easy, and this weekend saw the No. 66 Ford GT wipe out hard on the infamous Eau Rouge corner at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Driver Stefan Mucke walked away unharmed, though you can be sure his ego was a bit bruised from the accident.
It’s as-yet unclear what exactly caused Mucke to spin out of control on the notorious turn, though the initial data seems to indicate it was a tire puncture of sorts. Watching the video, Mucke appeared to be in complete control when the GT’s rear end suddenly kicked out violently, sending car and driver careening into the nearby wall.
The No. 66 Ford GT ended its racing day there, and Mucke was sent to a nearby hospital where he recieved the all clear. It wasn’t all bad news though, as the No. 67 GT driven by Andy Priaulx, Marino Franchitti and Harry Tincknell, managed to finish in third place in class. This gave the Ford GT its first podium finish in the World Endurance Championship, following up on last week’s victory at the IMSA Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge at Laguna Seca.
Next up is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where both Ford GT programs hope to keep their momentum and take home a checkered flag for the Blue Oval.