Ford is getting ready to challenge for overall victory at Le Mans again after 60 years. And if there’s a “best in engine roar” award at stake, the Blue Oval may have already won.

The manufacturer has released a video of the team firing up the naturally aspirated V8 engine of the Le Mans Hypercar project for the first time, and boy, it has a glorious note reminiscent of the iconic GT40. 

Much like the Raptor T1+ Dakar rally car, the Ford hypercar that will race at Le Mans next year will be powered by an engine based on the Mustang’s Coyote V8, but stroked up to achieve an engine displacement of 5.4 liters. As mandated by LMDh rules, the V8 engine will be connected to a spec hybrid system and fitted to a hypercar chassis made by French firm Oreca.

“The firing of the engine at Oreca is more than a symbolic moment - it's a critical validation step. We are doing everything from an engine perspective in-house, and we're doing that because we can react faster, we can learn faster, and we can bring that back to the production side of the business. Hearing the Coyote V8 come alive within its intended home for the first time confirmed that months of integration work between the powertrain and chassis teams had paid off,” Said Dan Sayers, WEC Hypercar Program Manager, Ford Racing

Ford Racing will now embark on a comprehensive track testing schedule, where the team will focus on performance, reliability, hybrid system integration and aerodynamic validation in conditions aimed at simulating the demands of competing in the FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Their six factory drivers will take turns driving the Ford hypercar, namely Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller, Sebastian Priaulx, Matt Campbell, Nick Yelloly and Tom Blomqvist.