Ford Racing Completed Hypercar Testing at Silverstone
The LMDh-spec vehicle underwent a two-day evaluation session across varied track conditions to refine its performance.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Performance Vehicles
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Ford Racing has finished its third test session for the new LMDh-spec Hypercar at Silverstone. The vehicle, which utilizes a 5.4-liter V8 engine, operated in both wet and dry weather conditions during the two-day evaluation.
Why it matters
This development marks a significant step in readying the vehicle for the FIA World Endurance Championship. The testing program is vital for fine-tuning the car before it enters competitive racing in 2027.
The Hypercar is powered by a 5.4-liter V8 engine and recently completed its third overall test. This latest session at Silverstone featured the vehicle operating with active headlights for the first time.
The players
Ford Racing
This is the motorsports division responsible for the development and testing of Ford performance vehicles.
Nick Yelloly
He is a professional racing driver who participated as one of the test pilots during the Silverstone session.
Sebastian Priaulx
He is a professional driver involved in the ongoing evaluation and refinement of the Ford Hypercar program.
Logan Sargeant
He is a professional racing driver who served as a test driver and completed a full day of solo testing.
The details
Drivers Nick Yelloly, Sebastian Priaulx, and Logan Sargeant handled testing duties, with Sargeant driving solo on the second day. The team utilized the track time to evaluate the car through longer stints in mixed sunshine and rain.
Timeline
The two-day test session at Silverstone concluded in September 2026.
The team is scheduled to conduct further testing at Monza in October 2026.
The program will shift its focus to North American venues at the end of 2026.
The Hypercar is expected to make its FIA World Endurance Championship debut in 2027.
Roadmap
This development signals Ford Racing is aggressively aligning with the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar regulations to prepare for high-level international competition. The rigorous testing schedule highlights the automaker's commitment to returning to endurance racing with a purpose-built LMDh platform.
While this testing primarily benefits Ford's endurance racing team, the engineering insights gained often trickle down to high-performance consumer cars. Fans and potential buyers can anticipate that technologies refined in these sessions may eventually influence future road-going models.
The takeaway
The successful integration of active headlights and longer endurance stints at Silverstone confirms the program is meeting its technical development milestones. These tests provide the baseline data necessary to ensure the car remains competitive upon its 2027 debut.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in Performance Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RACER.
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