Officially Game Over for the Ford GT

[ACCP]

https://racer.com/2019/12/03/ganassi-confirms-imsa-exit/

I understood from the beginning that there was a limited life for this program but it's still sad, especially as a Ford guy myself. The GT has been something of a halo car for the series and both GTLM and IMSA are going to suffer without it on track. Farewell to my favorite race car.

[DaveL]

Would it kill Ford to let a privateer run the car in GTD?

[RS2]

One thing I will not miss is the horrible noise it makes.

[FormulaFox]

Would it kill Ford to let a privateer run the car in GTD?

Someone has to build a GT3 version first.

[Snakepit]

They timed it just right as the Corvette C8 is going to hit the track. They saw the writing on the wall.

Now what Ford ought to do is put that money into an Indycar engine program and get back to the Indy 500, where they belong.

[Jakester]

Would it kill Ford to let a privateer run the car in GTD?

The GT is not legal for IMSA GTD. It would be legal for WEC GTE Am.

Per the article, attempts to find a privateer team to run IMSA GTLM was unsuccessful. No mention of a privateer GTE Am effort other than Keating...who does have a GT but does not appear to be planning on racing it further.

[DaveL]

Per the article, attempts to find a privateer team to run IMSA GTLM was unsuccessful.

Well, I guess as long as they tried....

[ndcrs]

does this mean the cars are now approved for hsr?

[LAindycarfan80]

Cool car, can't imagine the costs to run that race program.

[mdkiel]

One thing I will not miss is the horrible noise it makes.

Yep. Such a beautiful car and such a disappointing flat sound. Needed V8 thunder like the Corvette.

Now what Ford ought to do is put that money into an Indycar engine program and get back to the Indy 500, where they belong.

[jimclark]

Now what Ford ought to do is put that money into an Indycar engine program and get back to the Indy 500, where they belong.

Where they belong? Would that mean back to F1 with a V first so they'd have something to derive an X from again? (the 260 would be a little long in the tooth, no?)
And is Cosworth still around? (Sumpin' to look into)

[FormulaFox]

And is Cosworth still around? (Sumpin' to look into)

Yes. No need to look into it at all.

[thehairpin]

The GT is not legal for IMSA GTD. It would be legal for WEC GTE Am.

Per the article, attempts to find a privateer team to run IMSA GTLM was unsuccessful. No mention of a privateer GTE Am effort other than Keating...who does have a GT but does not appear to be planning on racing it further.

IIRC, the efforts to find a privateer were not helped by Ford's demands for a part-time schedule of Ford-selected (read: major) events.

[ncrdbl1]

Someone has to build a GT3 version first.

Since it is now a production model I assume it can be done. The only question is if there is enough interest worldwide for someone to spend the type of money needed to create a GT3 version? Especially since you have so many other options that have had factory support in the creation of their GT3 version.

[FormulaFox]

Since it is now a production model I assume it can be done. The only question is if there is enough interest worldwide for someone to spend the type of money needed to create a GT3 version? Especially since you have so many other options that have had factory support in the creation of their GT3 version.

Given the restrictions Ford has placed on purchases of the GT, I don't think any third parties are going to be able to do it. Ford doesn't want anyone modifying the GTs, or reselling them before a certain period of time has passed(as John Cena found out). Both of these cause problems for making GT3 cars - even if you want to build it to run yourself, the first issue is still in play.

And when it comes to IMSA, well... There's that pesky partnership fee as well. Good luck getting any other private entries to pay it off - the only remaining manufacturer being paid for by entrants are splitting the bill between two parties.