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HomeMediaWould you risk your historic GT40 in a 2-race series?

Would you risk your historic GT40 in a 2-race series?

British group plans a pair of single-marque events for 2021

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So, you own one of the original Ford GT40 race cars. Do you keep it protected in your garage or museum, or are you tempted to put it at risk to compete for the Amon Cup? 

British-based Motor Racing Legends has announced a new one-make racing series for historic Ford GT40s with two races scheduled for 2021, May 1-2 at the Donington Historic Festival and October 30-31 at Silverstone. 

The races will be open to cars set in pre-1966 specification. Each race will run for 80 minutes with a 40-minute qualifying session determining the starting grid. Each car must be driven by two drivers during the race.

Ford GT40
Bernard Thuner and Claude Nahum are the drivers who race this Ford GT40 Mk1 in vintage competition in Europe | Motor Racing Legends photo

“The arrival of the Ford GT40 in the 1960s remains one of the most significant moments in motorsport history,” Motor Racing Legends said in its announcement. 

“The back story of the Ford GT40’s rise as the most iconic GT car of a generation is indeed worthy of a Hollywood film and the dominance of the American challengers on French soil in the Le Mans 24 Hour race shifted the sands of Ferrari’s longstanding dominance in the sport. 

“A machine of great technological advance, the Ford GT40 still commands great respect and affection from competitors and enthusiasts alike.”

However, it continued, “Owners of Ford GT40s have limited opportunities to use their cars in anger so to address the void, Motor Racing Legends and DK Engineering are launching two eighty-minute races for the 2021 season, giving owners and drivers of these exquisite cars a unique opportunity to race in a dedicated one-make grid.”

The winner’s trophy honors Chris Amon, the New Zealand-born racer who with Bruce McLaren won Le Mans in 1966 in a GT40.

Owners of historic Ford GT40s can gain additional information at the Motor Racing Legends website.

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Larry Edsall
Larry Edsall
A former daily newspaper sports editor, Larry Edsall spent a dozen years as an editor at AutoWeek magazine before making the transition to writing for the web and becoming the author of more than 15 automotive books. In addition to being founding editor at ClassicCars.com, Larry has written for The New York Times and The Detroit News and was an adjunct honors professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

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