LEGO and Ford have announced a new set in their ongoing partnership that celebrates Ford’s historic Le Mans victories. The first win came in 1966 with the iconic Ford GT40, as Ford’s cars swept the board with a 1-2-3 win and cemented the company’s place on the stage as a world-class racecar manufacturer. Exactly 50 years later the Ford GT, the descendant of the GT40, placed first in the GTE Pro class at Le Mans. The new LEGO Speed Champions set contains both the Ford GT40 and the Ford GT to celebrate these wins. The new set will be available March 1 for €34.99 (£29.99). Read the full press release below, and watch a video with the set’s designer.
DESIGNED TO INSPIRE TOMORROW’S RACING DRIVERS, ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS – FORD’S LE MANS VICTORIES IN LEGO® BRICKS
- Ford race cars that won 1966 and 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours will be available as part of the exclusive LEGO® Speed Champions range of models
- New kit brings to life iconic Ford GT40 and today’s Ford GT race car. Minifigures, chequered flag and trophy will help to bring famous victories to life again and again
- Designing the exclusive kit was a “dream project” for LEGO design lead Craig Callum, a former car designer who races Fords in his spare time
COLOGNE, Germany, Nov. 29, 2016 – It’s a gift 50 years in the making that could set your child on the path to becoming a racing legend. The iconic Ford GT40 and new Ford GT that won Le Mans 24 Hours in 1966 and 2016 are being brought to life in LEGO® bricks.
The new LEGO Speed Champions set will include both cars as well as racing driver minifigures, a chequered flag and even a trophy to make it easy to recreate those history-making victories.
“Many people in my team grew up with the legend of Ford’s history-making 1966 victory – and experienced the excitement of building and design for the first time through LEGO bricks,” said Dave Pericak, global director, Ford Performance. “This kit is a powerful way to tell our Le Mans story, and will hopefully inspire the race drivers, engineers, and designers of the future.”
Ford won at Le Mans earlier this year after returning to the scene of what was a historic 1-2-3 clean sweep 50 years previously. The LEGO Group worked closely with Ford’s design and licensing teams on every detail of the 1966 winning car, and the new Ford GT race car.
“This was a dream project – with a lot of pressure. The Ford GT40 is one of the most iconic race cars of all time, and the new Ford GT is just incredible,” said Craig Callum, head of design, LEGO Speed Champions. “Designed for children, but with grown-ups fans in mind too, we know these models will be closely scrutinized for authenticity.”
Callum, who in his spare time races a Ford Model A hot-rod, and started out as a designer of full-sized cars, helped develop ten prototypes before the final versions of each model were selected, all created from existing LEGO bricks.
You can watch Callum assemble the new kit in record time here.
The new 2016 Ford GT and 1966 Ford GT40 set will be available to order at LEGO.com/shop from March 1, 2017, with a recommended retail price of €34.99 (£29.99). A Ford Mustang set is on sale now, alongside a Ford F 150 Raptor with trailer and Ford Model A hot rod.
Editor’s notes
- Le Mans 2016 race win
The #68 Ford GT of Sébastien Bourdais (FRA), Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (GER) crossed the finish line as the winner in the GTE-Pro class of the 2016 Le Mans 24 Hours.
- Le Mans 1966 podium sweep
The #2 Ford GT40 Mark II driven by Bruce McLaren (NZ) and Chris Amon (NZ) took first place at Le Mans in 1966 – leading a Ford clean sweep of the three podium positions. The 1966 race was Ford’s first ever win at Le Mans, and the first of four successive victories at the iconic endurance race.
- The 2016 Ford GT
The ultra-high-performance Ford GT supercar is the most advanced Ford production vehicle ever, featuring the latest in lightweighting, aerodynamics and EcoBoost engine technology – an innovation showcase for the Ford brand.
- The 1966 Ford GT40 Mark II
The Ford GT40 Mark II featured a lightweight aluminium chassis, rear-wheel drive and a 7.0-litre Ford V8 engine. The car was named the GT (Grand Touring) with the 40 representing its height at the top of the windscreen in inches.
- LEGO® Speed Champions
LEGO Speed Champions puts children in the driver seat, as they build and race some of the most famous cars ever produced, with authentic designs and exciting accessories to inspire young imaginations.
