GT5 Transcripts/Ford Mark IV Race Car '67

The year was 1966, and Ford was on a roll, especially at the world's most famous endurance race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The company realized its goal of winning the historic contest on its third try, dominating the competition with the Ford GT Mark II. With their eyes set on winning future Le Mans races, the engineers from Ford had begun work developing a new race car in 1965, one that would eclipse the prowess of the GT Mark II. The new car, the Mark IV, was built according to changes in article J of the FIA vehicle regulation.
The new car possessed an aluminum honeycomb chassis, which replaced the previous car's steel monocoque one. The profile of the car was characterized by its long, low body that curved from the center section to the rear end. The side air intakes utilized NACA ducts for less drag. The car was subjected to intense wind tunnel testing, and as a result, the Mark IV was one of the most aerodynamically proficient vehicles in the world.
Although the Mark IV's engine was carried over from the Mark II, its power was increased to 523 HP. The chassis was also updated. The result was a race car with an improved top speed of 215.6 miles and better overall stability than its predecessor. In 1967, the Mark IV won the 12 Hours of Sebring and claimed the checkered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, beating its rival, Ferrari, by five laps. This victory marked the last time the Ford works team participated at Le Mans. The main reason for its departure was the adoption of a new rule in 1968 that restricted maximum displacement, which seemed directly aimed at the Ford GT because, simply put, the car was too fast for the competition.
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