Ford Racing is stepping up its preparations for its highly anticipated return to the top tier of endurance racing in 2027, announcing a series of high-profile engineering appointments. With the Hypercar category increasingly competitive, the Blue Oval is leaving no stone unturned in building a team capable of challenging for overall honours in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Furthermore, the latest additions bring invaluable experience from the upper echelons of motorsport, signalling Ford’s serious intent to compete at the sharp end of the grid. The appointments also reflect a broader focus on operational excellence and trackside precision as the team readies itself for the challenges of modern prototype racing.
Grant Clarke joins as trackside Engineering Manager
Grant Clarke will oversee Ford’s trackside operations as the new Engineering Manager. Clarke arrives from Formula E, where he played a critical role managing complex systems and race strategies for McLaren. His previous stint in FIA WEC with TF Sport adds further depth to his experience in endurance racing, particularly in managing the dynamic challenges of multi-class events.
Clarke’s expertise will be pivotal as Ford navigates the technical and strategic demands of the Hypercar category, ensuring that the team can execute flawlessly under pressure on race day.
Leena Gade: A proven Le Mans winner joins Ford ahead of 2027 WEC Hypercar return
Ford’s Hypercar programme has also secured the services of Leena Gade, one of endurance racing’s most decorated engineers. Gade became the first female race engineer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, achieving three victories with Audi between 2011 and 2014.
Her appointment provides Ford with a wealth of knowledge of both the iconic Circuit de la Sarthe and long-distance strategy, crucial elements for success in the Hypercar category. Gade’s experience with prototype cars and championship-winning programmes will form a cornerstone of Ford’s technical ambitions.
“To compete at the top level of endurance racing, you need the best minds in the business,” said Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Racing. “Bringing in 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 organisation capable of winning the world’s toughest races.”
Jean-Philippe Sarrazin adds modern Hypercar expertise
The technical trio is completed by Jean-Philippe Sarrazin, who joins from Porsche Penske Motorsport, where he engineered the world championship-winning Hypercar in 2024. Sarrazin brings first-hand experience of the current generation of hybrid prototypes, including insights into systems, aerodynamics, and endurance strategy.
His knowledge ensures Ford’s programme benefits from a deep understanding of contemporary Hypercar competition, allowing the team to fast-track development and refine its cars ahead of the 2027 debut.
Ford building a world-class team ahead of 2027 WEC Hypercar campaign
The integration of Clarke, Gade, and Sarrazin into Ford’s development programme demonstrates the team’s commitment to assembling world-class expertise across all aspects of operations. From trackside strategy and race engineering to long-distance planning, Ford is creating a structure capable of competing at the very top of the FIA WEC.
By recruiting engineers with proven championship success, including multiple Le Mans victories, Ford is signalling that its Hypercar project is designed not merely to participate but to win. The countdown to the 2027 season is now fully underway, and the team’s strengthened engineering line-up will be central to its ambitions.
