Ford Motor Company has revealed plans to conduct the initial test of its new LMDh prototype in the third quarter of 2026, ahead of its highly anticipated debut in the 2027 FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar category.
Speaking to select media outlets on Monday, Ford LMDh chief Dan Sayers confirmed that development is progressing on schedule, with the first car expected to roll out in the south of France within the next three to four months.
“Our development is exactly where I expected it to be,” Sayers said. “There are always challenges, but everything has gone well so far. The test car engine is being built shortly, the homologation process has started, and the programme remains on track.”
The prototype, which remains unnamed, is built on an Oreca LMP2 chassis and is powered by a 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine. The project is a collaboration across Ford teams in the UK, United States, and France.
| Item | Specification / Plan |
|---|---|
| Chassis | Oreca LMP2 |
| Engine | 5.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 |
| Initial Test Location | South of France |
| Planned Test Duration | 1 week rollout + debugging |
| European Endurance Test | 30 hours |
| US Endurance Test | 30 hours (e.g., Sebring) |
| Target Race Debut | 2027 WEC Hypercar season, Qatar |
Sayers outlined that Ford’s testing programme has been fully mapped out and prioritises a careful balance between mileage and development time. “If we miss one of these tests, it creates a huge knock-on effect,” he explained. “We’ve planned everything meticulously and are pushing hard to ensure we remain on schedule.”
Initial running will focus on Europe before moving to North America for endurance-specific testing. A second test car is planned to mirror the strategy used by other Hypercar manufacturers, enabling concurrent testing and development.
“We will stage tests with a couple of weeks in between for analysis and software updates,” Sayers said. “The idea is to gain maximum information while keeping our programme moving efficiently. After Europe, we’ll head to America for another 30-hour endurance simulation before preparing for the first race in Qatar.”
The new prototype represents Ford’s first return to top-level prototype racing since the C100, signalling a renewed push into endurance racing at the highest level. With the first test imminent, the Blue Oval aims to enter the 2027 season with a fully validated, race-ready Hypercar.
