Engineering news
Goodwood Revival kicks off this weekend. The three-day racing festival celebrates cars that competed on the Goodwood Circuit prior to 1966.
Joining the plethora of racing cars on display is the heritage 1965 Ford GT40, which will be shown off alongside its third generation GT, showcased at Le Mans 2015 earlier this year.
Same, but different
The iconic GT40 dominated the Le Mans event between 1966 and 1969, with four consecutive outright victories. While the model has undoubtedly changed drastically over the years in terms of powertrain, materials and design, the new GT ensures the manufacturer returns makes a notable return to the world of GT racing. As well as existing as a modern homage to its predecessor, however, the GT must inevitably move forward, in terms of design, engineering and powertrain.
Jamal Hameedi, chief engineer of Ford Performance and the Ford GT's chief engineer, says: “The original GT40 was conceived and designed as a racing car. The second generation looked very much like the original but was designed as a road vehicle.
“The third generation has gone back to the original conception and just like they did in the 60s. We have harnessed every technology at our disposal to develop a racing car that is also a road car. In execution and inspiration, the new GT has many similarities to the original.”
Hameedi explains that there is a night and day difference between the GT40 and today's GT in terms of design and aerodynamics. “Amongst its peer group, the GT40 was one of the first cars that really started harnessing aerodynamics in handling and straight-line speed. If there's one thing that's driven the design of the new GT it's aerodynamics. The car has been developed in a wind tunnel to make it as efficient and aerodynamic as possible.”
The manufacturer is expecting the new GT to return to Le Mans in 2016, coinciding with the fiftieth anniversary of its first victory. Hameedi says: “There is an incredible amount of pressure on the team because of the incredible legacy of the GT40. But that's a legacy that the entire team is embracing and that really motivates us.”
From the start of the programme, Ford knew that for the GT to be modern and competitive, a significant amount of change needed to take place.
Hameedi says: “If you look at the car you can see instantly that is has GT40 DNA from the front nostrils where the cooling pack air exits, to the rear of the vehicle and the round tail line. It is instantly recognisable as a Ford GT.”
Embracing the digital age
The modern GT has been developed using computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools to develop the main carbon tub and aluminium sub-structures. CAN bus function extender technology has been used to develop the engine and the turbo plumbing system from the intercoolers from the high and low pressure ducts. “There's no part of the car that has been done without the use of computer-aided engineering,” Hameedi says.
Lightweighting was one of the most essential considerations for Ford GT engineers when creating the modern GT, he adds. In addition, the model is also made largely of super-light carbon fibre and aluminium. “We've used all the lightweighting technology at our disposal. The structural carbon fibre isn't just there to look cool. It's serving a structural purpose and gets to the essence of what we think carbon fibre can be used for, even using it in our wheels.”
Rethinking the powertrain
While Porsche and Ferrari are exploring petrol and electric hybrids in their next-generation supercars, Ford has opted for an all-gasoline twin-turbo 3.5 litre V6 Ecoboost engine for the GT. The Ecoboost technology also features in its top-selling hatchbacks.
Hameedi says: “We could have gone with some kind of hybrid supplement to the internal combustion engine but the hybrid subsystems add quite a bit of weight to the vehicle. We had extremely aggressive weight targets for the car which would have not been reached with hybrid technology.
“The 3.5 litre Ecoboost engine, which was already running in Ford's Daytona prototypes also fit in well with the tapering profile of the GT, he adds.
50 years since the first GT have almost passed, and Goodwood Revival will be celebrating its mark on British motorsports. But does Hameedi expect the legacy of the GT to live on for years to come?
“50 years later we are still talking about a GT, so it wouldn't surprise me if the same is true 50 years from now. It's an iconic part of Ford.”