Ford Racing Bolsters FIA WEC Hypercar Team with Key Appointments
Ford Racing has announced significant enhancements to its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar program, set to debut in 2027. The storied automaker has secured three prominent engineering talents, underscoring its commitment to competing at the highest level of endurance racing.
Leena Gade, a celebrated race engineer and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner with Audi Sport, joins as a race engineer. Gade became the first female engineer to achieve this milestone, bringing invaluable experience to Ford’s efforts.
Also joining the team is Grant Clarke, who transitions from NEOM McLaren Electric Racing in Formula E to assume the role of trackside engineering manager. Clarke’s expertise is rooted in substantial sports car racing experience, having previously worked with Prodrive and TF Sport.
Completing the trio is Jean-Philippe Sarrazin, formerly of Porsche Penske Motorsport, where he played a critical role in engineering the 2024 World Championship-winning 963.
Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Racing, emphasized the importance of these hires: “To compete at the top level of endurance racing, you need the best minds in the business. Bringing individuals of the calibre of Grant, Leena, and Jean-Philippe shows exactly how serious we are. We aren’t just showing up to the grid; we are building a world-class organization capable of winning the world’s toughest races.”
These appointments highlight Ford’s strategic focus on assembling a robust team as it aims for dominance in the competitive world of endurance racing.
