Paying tribute to Alan Mann Racing’s lightweight 1966 Ford GT prototypes, known as the AM GT-1, Ford announced the Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition. A limited-edition version of the Ford GT, it is intended to celebrate the key role those prototypes played in creating the legend of the Ford GT40.
Alan Mann Racing had some of the greatest drivers of all time behind their wheels, including Graham Hill, Sir Jackie Stewart, Jacky Ickx, and even Bruce McLaren – yes, the same McLaren name that races in Formula 1 today. The relationship between Alan Mann Racing and Ford started before the Ford GT made its track debut, when Alan Mann worked at a Ford dealership and focused on the dealership’s racing operations. The success from that program saw an invitation from Ford to participate in the the Marlboro 12 Hours in 1963, a race in which the customer team beat the factory entered cars.
Following the success of the Marlboro race, Alan ventured out on his own and established Alan Mann Racing which was contracted by Ford to run their cars – a bit different from many of their contemporaries who had to find sponsorship to go racing. In essence, their sponsor was Ford. This lead to entering Ford Falcons in the Monte Carlo Rally, one of which had the fastest time on each stage of the rally. Alan Mann Racing also lead to some of the earliest on-track success for the then-new Mustang.
In 1965 Ford contracted Alan Mann Racing to operate the European portion of the World GT Championship using Shelby Cobras, leading to the first World Championship victory for an American automotive manufacturer. The following year saw the construction of two lightweight GT40s, which were raced at Sebring. Eventually Ford settled on the Mk II version of the GT40 instead of the lightweight, but they continued working with Alan Mann Racing with success in the British Saloon Car Championship and brought the two companies closer together when testing the then-new Ford Escort in ’68.
The 2022 Alan Mann Heritage Edition Ford GT is inspired by the lightweight design of the AM GT-1 with its carbon fiber body and red paint with gold racing stripes directly inspired by the AM GT-1. This is the seventh version of the Ford GT Heritage Edition to be sold, dating back to the 2006 Ford GT. The 2022 Ford GT Alan Mann Heritage Edition is currently available for approved Ford GT customers and initial deliveries are expected later this quarter.