Ford Racing’s newest Hypercar hires have been granted permission from their existing manufacturers to be integrated into the the Blue Oval’s testing and development program this year according to Mark Rushbrook.
Confirmed last week, Matt Campbell, Tom Blomqvist and Nick Yelloy will complete Ford’s lineup in the FIA World Endurance Championship next year with its factory Hypercar effort, joining the previously announced Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller and Seb Priaulx.
Speaking with assembled reporters in Le Mans, Rushbrook, Ford Racing’s global director, said they’ve received the go-ahead from Blomqvist and Yelloly’s current employer, Acura, as well as Porsche, where Campbell serves as a factory driver, to take part in the LMDh-based prototype’s development.
“We’re obviously very respectful to their existing commitments, which they owe to their teams and their manufacturers,” said Rushbrook.
“But there will be opportunities to have them, if there is not a conflict, to be able to do some simulator work and test work.”
When asked if all six drivers will be at the car’s scheduled rollout on Aug. 5 in Le Castellet, Rushbrook said: “We don’t need all six. We just need to work through their schedules.”
All three drivers come from programs in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTP class, with Blomqvist and Yelloly in the final season of the Acura ARX-06 effort, following its decision to pause the program, and reigning GTP champion Campbell on an endurance-only role this year in the No. 6 Penske Porsche 963.
“We’ve still got some races to win in the States first but thankfully Honda has been very kind to allow us to start working with them, start spending time, where we have the time,” Blomqvist told Sportscar365.
“Thankfully the calendars look pretty good. We can take part in most of the tests and most of the simulator work and whatnot.”
“It’s going to be a pretty busy end of the year but very thankful to Meyer Shank, Acura, HRC, they’ve been fantastic in this whole thing.”
“Obviously nobody’s wanted that program to stop. But letting us get on with it and taking care of our careers has been good.”
Campbell, meanwhile, revealed he has just two more races to run with the German manufacturer, next weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in Schumacher CLRT’s Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo, and Motul Petit Le Mans, back in the No. 6 Penske 963.
“To be honest, I’m quite lucky with the calendar and the program,” the now U.S.-based Australian told Sportcar365. “There’s no real clashes with any of our developments with Ford. There’s just a one test clash, which is fine.”
“Everything else works quite well. Obviously already working on the sim quite hard as well in Charlotte.”
Acura Drivers’ Deals With Ford “Came Together Quickly”
Blomqvist and Yelloly revealed they both began discussions with Ford shortly after it was internally known that the Acura IMSA GTP program would not continue next year.
Yelloly revealed that his initial contact came through Ford Racing GT3 factory driver Christopher Mies.
He said: “We’re good friends so I asked him, ‘Do you think there’s spots or not?’ He said, ‘I don’t know, speak to Rocky.’ Then I spoke to Rocky and then I spoke to Dan [Sayers, Ford WEC Hypercar program manager].
“It happened like that. I guess I owe Rocky and Chris some beers!”
“Then once I spoke to Dan, we had a few conversations. We met in Spa at the WEC and Silverstone and kinda at that point we knew that stuff could be progressed.”
Blomqvist added: “It all happened very quickly from Acura’s side of things. I think when we even started discussions, [Ford] was obviously in discussion with a number of people before.”
“When the Acura guys came about, it was a bigger driver pool, when you look on paper, it’s quite useful to Ford in a way.”
“I think that maybe changed timeframes from their side, I’m not sure.”
“From the go-ahead to now, it’s all happened extremely quickly, in the last couple of weeks, honestly.”
“This for me, I was the most passionate about. I’m very grateful that they chose me. I’m sure there’s a lot of drivers wanting to be in these seats.”
“I’m very happy that they trusted me for that. Now it’s time to get work.”
Ford Yet to Decide on Two or Three-Driver Lineups Post-Le Mans
Rushbrook said they’ve yet to determine if they will retain three-driver lineups per car for the post-Le Mans races next year.
While all six drivers will be in action for the season-ending 8 Hours of Bahrain, the six-hour contests at Interlagos, Circuit of The Americas and Fuji Speedway are currently question marks.
“For sure, up until Le Mans, which actually looking at the 2027 schedule, there’s a lot of races before Le Mans,” said Rushbrook. “Then TBD post-Le Mans.
“But we want to get all of them seat time for sure before Le Mans.”
Ford has also yet to determine the driver combinations, which will likely come once the American squad is into its on-track testing phase.
Yelloly, meanwhile, hopes he could end up being paired with fellow Acura refugee Blomqvist.
“Let’s see,” he said. “I don’t know what the mix is going to be. I guess there’s so much in consideration. Weight is going to be one, with the averages. But it would be great to share with Tom.”
