Ford vs. Ferrari: Blue oval brand to return to top level of endurance racing and Le Mans in 2027
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Ford Motor Co. will return to the top level of prototype sports car racing in 2027 in the World Endurance Championship series with a factory team that will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
'We are entering a new era for performance and racing at Ford. You can see it from what we're doing on-road and off-road,' said Bill Ford, the executive chairman of Ford. 'When we race, we race to win. And there is no track or race that means more to our history than Le Mans.'
Ford had four consecutive overall victories at Le Mans from 1966 and 1969 under the direction of the late Carroll Shelby. That dominance led to the storied rivalry with Ferrari depicted in the 2019 movie 'Ford v Ferrari.'
'It is where we took on Ferrari and won in the 1960s. It is where we returned 50 years later and shocked the world and beat Ferrari again,' Bill Ford said. 'I am thrilled that we're going back to Le Mans and competing at the highest level of endurance racing. We are ready to once again challenge the world, and 'go like hell.''
Ford pulled out of competition after 1969 but celebrated the 50th anniversary of its first Le Mans victory with a return to the endurance event in 2016 in the GTLM class. A team fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing marked the return with a class victory. The Ford Mustang GT3 has most recently been competing at Le Mans as a customer car.
'Ford has been synonymous with success both on and off-track for decades, and we are delighted that the company has chosen the FIA World Endurance Championship for its latest challenge,' said Frédéric Lequien, CEO of WEC.
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Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Club World Cup refs to wear eye-level cameras but it's what FIFA won't show that's most telling
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The Hill
31 minutes ago
- The Hill
With retail cyberattacks on the rise, customers find orders blocked and and empty shelves
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Here's what you need to know. Despite ongoing efforts from organizations to boost their cybersecurity defenses, experts note that cyberattacks continue to increase across the board. In the past year, there's also been an 'uptick in the retail victims' of such attacks, said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a U.S. nonprofit. 'Cyber criminals are moving a little quicker than we are in terms of securing our systems,' he said. Ransomware attacks — in which hackers demand a hefty payment to restore hacked systems — account for a growing share of cyber crimes, experts note. And of course, retail isn't the only affected sector. Tracking by NCC Group, a global cybersecurity and software escrow firm, showed that industrial businesses were most often targeted for ransomware attacks in April, followed by companies in the 'consumer discretionary' sector. 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A range of consumer-facing companies have reported cybersecurity incidents recently — including breaches that have caused some businesses to halt operations. United Natural Foods, a major distributor for Whole Foods and other grocers across North America, took some of its systems offline after discovering 'unauthorized activity' on June 5. In a securities filing, the company said the incident had impacted its 'ability to fulfill and distribute customer orders.' United Natural Foods said in a Wednesday update that it was 'working steadily' to gradually restore the services. Still, that's meant leaner supplies of certain items this week. A Whole Foods spokesperson told The Associated Press via email that it was working to restock shelves as soon as possible. The Amazon-owned grocer's partnership with United Natural Foods currently runs through May 2032. 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But many don't immediately or publicly specify whether ransomware was involved. Still, Steinhauer says the likelihood of ransomware attacks is 'pretty high' in today's cybersecurity landscape — and key indicators can include businesses taking their systems offline or delaying financial reporting. Overall, experts say it's important to build up 'cyber hygiene' defenses and preparations across organizations. 'Cyber is a business risk, and it needs to be treated that way,' Clewlow said.
San Francisco Chronicle
31 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Oilers likely making a change for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. Who starts in goal is a mystery
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