WEC: Ford reveals GT driver lineup

Ford has revealed the drivers who will lead its assault on the 2016 World Endurance Championship with its new GTE contender. The two Ford GTs entered in the full WEC, encompassing the Le Mans 24 Hours, will be raced by Andy Priaulx, Olivier Pla, Stefan Mucke and Marino Franchitti, as expected.

The pairings for the two cars, which will be fielded in the GTE Pro class under the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing banner, and the identities of the extra drivers for Le Mans, have yet to be confirmed.

"Make no mistake, we are racing to win," Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak said. "To compete at this level you need the best car, the best team and the best drivers, and we have selected Stefan, Olivier, Andy and Marino to drive the Ford GT to take on the best in the world."

Team boss Chip Ganassi said that the four drivers announced at the launch of the WEC project at the team's new headquarters near Silverstone had "heart, speed and proven endurance racing credentials."

Priaulx, who has left BMW after 13 years, added: "A new project is always exciting, but for me to be driving for Ford in the WEC is just on another level."

Franchitti, winner of the 2014 Sebring 12 Hours driving a Ganassi Daytona Prototype, said that it was "incredible to be part of Ford's return to international GT racing."

Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook, Dirk Muller and Joey Hand have already been signed as the principal drivers for its IMSA program in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Ford intends for the U.S. cars to race alongside the WEC entries at Le Mans on the 50th anniversary of the manufacturer's first victory in the race.

It has also been announced that Mucke will contest the Rolex 24 at Daytona  in one of the two Ganassi Fords entered in IMSA's GT Le Mans class, driving alongside Westbrook and Briscoe.

Originally on Autosport.com