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Five years ago, Hollywood came out with a semi-autobiographical movie, “Ford v Ferrari,” which detailed the intense rivalry between Ford and Ferrari as Ford put together a credible effort to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking the podium from Ferrari. The leaders of this effort were the famed Caroll Shelby and his iconic driver Ken Miles, who was not only the lead driver but also the test driver and engineer.
A Stirring Movie Detailed An Earlier Effort
It was a stirring movie that, if one has a chance to view, one should sculpt out three hours or so to see. The movie detailed what could have been very dry scenes of testing and such, but it was far more than that. Starring Matt Damon as Shelby and Christian Bale as Miles, the movie details the intense rivalry between Ferrari and Ford as they worked to win the 24 of Le Mans in 1966. It is a very quick movie that even details Miles' final run.
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However, Ford worked with individuals, even as Ford execs tried to rein in the effort. Did they? No, because Ford took three of the races, 1-2-3. It was still controlled by the folks they hired to do the work.
Since then, Ford has worked with several contractors and supporting firms to put out race-worthy efforts, resulting in several winning finishes over time.
This year, Ford is teaming with Sparco, a global leader in motorsports wear and equipment, and Ford Performance, the high-performance division of Ford Motor Company, is excited to announce a formal relationship beginning with the North American Mustang GT3 factory race program taking place in the IMSA sanctioned GTD Pro category.
Sparco Called ‘Official Supplier’
In an “Official Supplier” role, Sparco will provide technical racewear and team apparel for the Ford Multimatic Motorsports GTD Pro program. The agreement will have instant impact trackside as the team makes it’s racing debut at the iconic Rolex 24 At DAYTONA this weekend, simultaneously serving as the season kick-off of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
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Sparco has long supported various Ford Performance programs, and the announced partnership continues a successful collaboration spanning decades. Ford Performance-based projects that have benefitted from Sparco’s signature safety, quality, and style include an extensive relationship with the M-Sport-run FIA World Rally Championship program featuring the Puma Rally1 Hybrid and outfitting the global Ford GT driver line-up.
Most recently, Sparco has become a supplier for Ford Performance specialty track-only vehicles like the Ford GT Mk IV and Mustang Dark Horse R's newest sports car racer.
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“All of us at Ford and Ford Performance are proud of our roots as a family company," said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports. "Having dedicated partners, like Sparco, who share our determination and passion in both global motorsports and road car programs is what helps carry on that legacy. Ford Performance and Sparco jointly embrace a commitment to excellence, fostering continuous innovation both on and off the track, and we are excited about what the future holds.”
Companies Share Passion For Excellence
“The announcement of the partnership with Ford Performance is the result of a union between two entities that share a common passion for excellence and a determination to achieve extraordinary performance," said Aldino Bellazzini, Sparco president and CEO. "Together, Sparco and Ford Performance are committed to pushing every limit with constant research and development, bringing cutting-edge innovation and style to global motorsport.”
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Marc Stern has been an automotive writer since 1971. His automotive articles have appeared in venues including Popular Mechanics, Mechanix Illustrated, AutoWeek, SuperStock, Trailer Life, Old Cars Weekly, Special Interest Autos, and others. You can follow Marc on Twitter or Facebook.
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