1966 Ford GT40 Le Mans

When Ford set out to develop a race car that could beat Ferrari in endurance racing, the GT40 was the resulting creation. The previous years running at the Le Mans 24 Hours was disastrous for Ford with their GT40, but 1966 was a different story.

With Ferrari now the one’s to suffer issues, three Ford GT40’s crossed the line at Le Mans in first, second and third place. A remarkable triumph for the American company who had invested millions into the development of the GT40 after a failed attempt at purchasing Ferrari.

Perhaps the cruel twist to the race was the staged finish orchestrated by Ford racing director Leo Beebe, who wanted all three cars to cross the line in a row together for a dead heat. This meant the race leading GT40 driven by Ken Miles was told to slow down and let the others catch up. The resulting finish saw the GT40 driven by Brice McLaren declared the winner, with Miles denied a certain victory.