24h Le Mans
Briefly referenced in the film "Le Mans 66" ("Ford v Ferrari") – a Best Picture Oscar nominee currently featured in an exhibit at the 24 Hours Museum – the 24 Hours of Daytona like the 24 Hours of Le Mans served as a battle ground for the duel between Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s. Here's a look at four major moments in 1966 and 1967 ahead of the 2020 running of Daytona (25-26 January). In this first installment, Ford triumphs at its first endurance races.
Initially a three-hour race (in 1962 and 1963) then 2,000 km (in 1964 and 1965) at the Daytona International Speedway, the current 24-hour version was first held in 1966.
At the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, Ken Miles gave Ford it first win at a 24-hour race along with American driver Lloyd Ruby, an oval circuit racing expert (18 participations in the Indianapolis 500) recruited by Ford in its battle against Ferrari at Le Mans.
The race was a triumph for the American manufacturer with four cars in the top 5: winners Miles-Ruby, Dan Gurney-Jerry Grant (2nd), Walt Hansgen-Mark Donohue (3rd) and future 24 Hours of Le Mans winners Chris Amon-Bruce McLaren (5th). Ford was also very pleased with the progress it had made technically, especially in terms of the fuel consumption of its 7-liter V8.
No factory Ferrari took the start in Florida that year, but Luigi Chinetti's North American Racing Team (NART) placed two cars in the top 10: the 365 P2 of Mario Andretti-Pedro Rodriguez (4th) and the 250 LM of Bob Bondurant-Jochen Rindt (10th).
At the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, Ferrari was counting on the lightness of its new 330 P3 prototypes (weighing less than a ton unlike the Fords) and its vast experience (nine wins since 1949 including six consecutive from 1960 to 1965) to beat Ford. But logistical concerns linked to strikes in Italy, the rough start by John Surtees during the free practice and the virtually unlimited resources of Ford undermined the Italian marque's determination. Though none of the three 330 P3s made it to the checkered flag, three Ford Mk IIs finished in the top 3, with in order Chris Amon-Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme-Ken Miles and Ronnie Bucknum-Dick Hutcherson.
In his own way, Enzo Ferrari acknowledged his rival's success: "I knew they had the money, but it didn't think they had the will." Ferrari would be looking for revenge in 1967…and Daytona and Le Mans did not disappoint. Don't miss the second episode in this series tomorrow.
PHOTO (Copyright - ACO/ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 18 JUNE 1966, START. Second at the 1966 24 Hours, the #1 Ford Mk II of Ken Miles won the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring that year. Having teamed with American driver Lloyd Ruby for those two races, Miles joined forces with New Zealander Denny Hulme for the 1966 running of Le Mans.
