Drive a GT40 and get into the ‘Le Mans 66’ endurance motor racing spirit! This wonderful car is a faithful replica of the Ford GT40s that won the Le Mans 24 hour race in 1966 1967 1968 and 1969 – and this is your chance to drive it.
The story of this formidable car is told in the hit 2019 film ‘Le Mans 66’ starring Matt Damon as Carroll Shelby and Christian Bale as Ken Miles. The plot is based on motoring folklore. Henry Ford II was negotiating to buy Ferrari in the early 1960s. Enzo Ferrari wanted to be head of the motorsport division of the newly merged company but Ford refused. Before you know it Enzo had gone with Fiat. The deal was off and Ford promised to take Ferrari on at their own game by producing a race-winning long distance car with Shelby as the designer and Miles as the driver.
That car was the Ford GT40. The GT bit is for Grand Touring whilst the 40 bit is a reference to the 40-inch height of the car – the very lower limit of the racing rules. The car snatched the Le Mans title from rivals Ferrari but not without plenty of drama as the film depicts.
This GT40 in classic Gulf power blue and burnt orange is the living image of that car and has been built in the true spirit of this iconic car right down to the chassis and the engine. This GT40 drives just like the real thing but doesn’t cost several million pounds. This really is the nearest thing you will get to driving a real GT40.
Just getting in the thing can be quite a challenge because of the large doors sills (as the fuel tanks are in there!) and you’ll be sliding into a bucket seat that’s just inches from the floor. And all the boot space is all taken up by the impressive V8 engine!
Press the start button and fire this beast into life. Don’t expect a smooth take off from standing though as the GT40 has a pretty heavy racing clutch so you have to really commit to pulling away and give it some revs. And once you’re on your way you’ll realise it’s a noisy fast hard and very uncomfortable ride – but that’s what these racing thoroughbreds are all about isn’t it?
These ‘Le Mans 66’ vouchers give you the chance to drive a GT40 for either three or six brilliantly bolshy miles at the venue of your choice. A pro instructor will be riding alongside you in the passenger seat to help you tame this motor racing brute from Ford. Just remember to keep those revs up!
