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SPA PROVIDES EXTREME TEST OF ENDURANCE FOR FORD GT CARS

MAY 7, 2016 | By Ford Performance Staff

The Ford Chip Ganassi Racing team had its biggest test of endurance yet at the WEC 6 Hours of Spa on Saturday.  The #67 Ford GT fought hard throughout the race and took a triumphant second place at the checkered flag. The best result yet for the WEC Ford GTs was tempered by the fact that with just over one hour of the six-hour race remaining, the #66 Ford GT crashed heavily exiting Eau Rouge. German driver Stefan Mücke was behind the wheel and it was an anxious moment for the team before his voice came over the radio. 
 
“Everything is okay,” said Mücke after having precautionary tests at a local hospital. “I feel okay and it is good to know we have a strong car. Thank you to the team for building me a safe car.”
 
The team will now take the car back to the UK for a full investigation whilst also continuing its preparations for Le Mans.
The sister No. 67 Ford GT had a very different race, finishing in second place and taking the best result yet for the Ford Chip Ganassi Racing WEC team.
 
“The most important thing is that Stefan is okay,” said WEC Team Principal George Howard-Chapell. “Typically, he is more concerned with the car than himself. We need to look at the data to find out what happened but at the moment we suspect it was a puncture. On the flip side it is fabulous to get second place, which was a fairly unexpected result. It’s good that it has followed on from the victory for the U.S. team last week and a great result for the lead into the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

The race started well for the No. 66 Ford GT as Frenchman Olivier Pla had a strong opening stint, fighting his way through to third place by passing two Aston Martins. Billy Johnson was up next and he continued the good work before handing the car to Mücke.

The No. 67 Ford GT also had a strong start in the hands of Marino Franchitti but 40 minutes into the opening stint the Scotsman received a tap from behind that sent him into a spin and to the back of the GTE Pro field. He quickly recovered and completed his stint before Andy Priaulx jumped in for his run, which saw the #67 steadily rise up the order, taking fourth before Harry Tincknell took over.  The young Briton had a great on track battle with Mücke before the accident happened and handed the car over to Franchitti in third place for the run to the flag.

Despite mounting pressure from a charging Aston Martin, Franchitti held on to third and then took second place when the #51 Ferrari ran in trouble.
“We had some great strategy calls from the pits today,” said Franchitti. “We said we would be pleased to get a podium finish here so to take second place is great. That result was for the team who have worked so hard for these past few months.”

The next race for all four Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GTs is the Le Mans 24 Hours, which takes place on 18-19 June.

- See more at: http://performance.ford.com/series/road-racing/news/articles/2016/05/spa-provides-extreme-test-of-endurance-for-ford-gt-cars.html#sthash.JUfVa92A.dpuf

Positive Start to the WEC Season for Ford GT Cars - Silverstone

“Considering it was the first race with a new car and a new team we had a clean run,” said Raj Nair, executive vice president and chief technical officer, Global Ford Product Development. “We’re very happy that the car ran well mechanically. We had a couple of issues; we were caught out on safety car timing and we lost radio with Olivier (Pla) towards the end of the race, which had an impact on strategy.  This is a great start though and a good stepping stone to the Le Mans 24 Hours.”

Both Ford GTs got away well at the start of the six-hour race with Stefan Mücke holding onto third position in the #66 car with Andy Priaulx close behind in #67. 
 
“I really enjoyed the start,” said Mücke. “It’s always exciting to start the first race of a new season and to take the start in the Ford GT was a special moment. We have found a good balance and as the Ford is easy on its tyres we were able to double stint and this really helps with our strategy.”
 
Priaulx got a tap from behind halfway around the opening lap but kept his focus and quickly settled into his race rhythm.
 
“The car ran faultlessly and I was able to get into a good rhythm straight away,” said Priaulx. “Our first pit stop, which was the first racing stop for the team, was spot on. I know we are a new team but it feels like we have been doing this for a while.  We can drive the Ford GT with confidence and combined with our strategy this makes us strong.”

Billy Johnson and Marino Franchitti took over the #66 and #67 Ford GTs respectively for the middle section of the race. Franchitti had a ‘moment’ when he was hit by an LMP1 car but he quickly recovered.
 
For the final two hours, the Ford GTs were handed over to Harry Tincknell and Olivier Pla who both delivered their usual rapid run.
 
“That’s the most laps I have driven in the Ford GT!” said Tincknell. “I really enjoyed it and I’m happy with fourth, although a podium would have been nice. I didn’t really focus on position though, I just drove as fast as I could and made sure I looked after my tyres.  This was also my first ever world-class GT race so I had to quickly learn how to deal with the prototypes flying past me. We learned a lot this weekend and that is what we came here to do so thanks to the team who all worked incredibly hard.”
 
The next race for the WEC Ford GTs is the 6 Hours of Spa, which takes place on May 7.

- See more at: http://performance.ford.com/series/road-racing/news/articles/2016/04/positive-start-to-the-wec-season-for-ford-gt-cars.html#sthash.EhhYJIpU.dpuf

Billy Johnson to drive the
​No. 66 Ford GT at LeMans

Ford Chip Ganassi Racing has assembled a talented team of racing drivers from across the globe, ready for its return to the Le Mans 24 Hours, 50 years on from taking outright victory at the world’s greatest endurance race.
Each of the four Ford GTs will have a team of three drivers to take on the demands of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which takes place on June 18-19.

“We are pleased to have a very strong driver lineup for our return to the Le Mans 24 Hours,” commented Raj Nair, Ford executive vice president and chief technical officer, Global Product Development. “We’ve assembled a talented and experienced team on all fronts, and we are all focused on creating a new chapter in Ford’s history at Le Mans.”

The No. 66 Ford GT will be raced by a formidable lineup featuring German, Stefan Mücke, Frenchman, Olivier Pla and American, Billy Johnson, while Scot, Marino Franchitti, Guernsey-based, Andy Priaulx and Englishman, Harry Tincknell form a very strong squad in the No. 67 Ford GT.
Tincknell is already a Le Mans winner as he took the LMP2 victory in 2014 in what was his fourth ever sports car race.  He will join the team for the first two WEC races at Silverstone and Spa before going to Le Mans.

“At 24, to be driving a Ford GT car at Le Mans exactly 50 years after the famous 1-2-3 finish for the team is incredibly special for me personally,” said Tincknell. “Ford has such an incredible history at Le Mans and I think with this car and team, we can emulate some of that success. We’ll be resuming that fierce battle with Ferrari, but it will be very competitive with all of the manufacturers in the class so we are in for a great fight. There is an incredible drive within the team at the moment and everyone is excited to be back. I’m very proud to be a part of it all.”

Johnson is one of the most successful drivers in the IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge. Currently racing the Ford Shelby GT350R-C Mustang, Johnson makes his Le Mans debut this year.

“Ford’s history at Le Mans is one of the greatest motorsport stories of all time, and this return after 50 years is arguably as meaningful and ambitious,” said Johnson. “Having won many races behind the wheel of Fords and having been a part of the development of the Ford GT, it’s truly an honor to be competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours on Ford’s historic return to the race. Like the original, the new Ford GT was built to win Le Mans, and it’s such a fantastic car to drive.”

The No. 68 Ford GT lineup of American Joey Hand and German Dirk Müller will be strengthened by the addition of Frenchman Sébastien Bourdais at Le Mans, with New Zealander Scott Dixon joining Englishman Richard Westbrook and Australian Ryan Briscoe in the No. 69 car.

Bourdais tested the Ford GT during its development phase and competed in the No. 66 IMSA Ford GT at the Rolex 24 with Hand and Müller.

“Le Mans is incredibly close to my heart,” said Bourdais. “I was born there so it is very special to go back as the local boy, as I have done 10 times now. People have not forgotten Ford’s history and heritage at Le Mans, even though it was a long time ago. The excitement around Ford’s return will make Le Mans even more special for us. We have new challenges and new rivalries, and we hope the story comes full circle so that we can repeat history.”

Bourdais and Dixon were recently announced as the third and fourth drivers who will complete the lineup for the Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring this week.

“For once I’m the rookie, as this will be my first Le Mans,” said Dixon. “I’m excited to make my Le Mans debut in the Ford GT. I’ve been in the car a few times in testing, so I know we have a great race car here. Like any driver, it is a dream come true for me to race at Le Mans, and I can’t wait to get started. The history of Ford at Le Mans is very well documented, and I’m proud to be part of this very special program.”

“Personally and as an organization, we are thrilled to be racing at Le Mans this year,” added Chip Ganassi. “As a driver, I raced there once back in 1987, and I have been looking to get back there ever since. To be going with Ford and the new GT makes it all the more special, and the talent assembled in this driver line-up just adds to the anticipation.”

​Credit: http://racing.ford.com/series/road-racing/news/articles/2016/03/ford-unveils-strong-international-line-up-of-drivers-to-tackle-t.html
​

Johnson & Maxwell Take 2nd
​at Sebring

SEBRING, Fla (March 18, 2016). -- Scott Maxwell and Billy Johnson nearly won their second Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race in a row Friday, after starting the No. 15 Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C on the pole at Sebring International Raceway.

Maxwell, who earned the TOTAL Pole Award in qualifying, dominated his opening stint, extending the .2-second lead he grabbed at the green flag over the Rum Bum Racing Porsche to three seconds before the first pit cycle started. Maxwell handed off to Johnson as the battle of the pit strategies began for the leaders in the Sebring 150.

While the No. 15 looked to have a chance for the win, ultimately, the call to make a late-race stop for four tires and fuel gave Johnson enough of a boost to race to the runner-up finish.

“Scott (Maxwell) did a fantastic job,” Johnson said. “He just dominated his stint of the race. The Multimatic/Ford Performance guys had great pit stops, pit calls and strategy and they just gave us a fantastic car. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from the car or  set-up wise. The handling was perfect, but it just wasn’t enough for the lighter cars. Given that, it definitely feels like a victory. It was a good points day.”

It was the Ford Shelby GT350R-C’s debut at Sebring, the track notorious for both its history and challenging racing surface.

“This is the first time the car’s been at Sebring, and it’s just awesome,” Johnson said. “The ride and the outright grip are awesome. It’s a fantastic job for (the Ford Shelby GT350R-C’s) debut at Sebring.”

The No. 76 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation Ford Shelby GT350R-C of Paul Holton and Pierre Kleinubing finished where it started at p4.

“We’ve done a lot of damper work,” Maxwell said. “We’ve got it tuned pretty good. We couldn’t quite do it today, but it’s a solid finish. We keep the championship lead, and that’s what we have to keep doing.”

- See more at: http://performance.ford.com/series/road-racing/news/articles/2016/03/mustangs-take-2md--4th-in-ctsc-event-at-sebring.html#sthash.ypkaA0oU.dpuf

Johnson & Maxwell WIN season-opener at Daytona for another historic 1-2 Finish for the Shelby GT350R-C

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- Kicking off a weekend looking to make history, Ford Performance celebrated a fast start to the 2016 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge championship with a victory at Daytona International Speedway on Friday. It was a 1-2 result for Ford Performance as the Rolex 24 At Daytona event weekend started with champagne showers.
​
The No. 15 Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C of Scott Maxwell and Billy Johnson took a commanding win in the Daytona event on Friday after leading a race-high 29 laps, with the fellow Ford machine of young Paul Holton and Pierre Kleinubing coming home in second place with the No. 76 AERO Advanced Paint Technology / Children's Tumor Foundation / Spyder Active Sports entry.

The win is the third IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge victory for the Ford Shelby GT350R-C since making a dramatic debut midway through the 2015 season.

Starting from the front row for the two-hour, 30-minute race, the No. 15 Multimatic entry driven by Maxwell lined up directly ahead of the second row-starting No. 76 AERO Advanced Paint Technology/Children’s Tumor Foundation/Spyder Active Sports with Holton behind the wheel.
Maxwell raced in podium position through every lap of his 26-lap stint before turning the car over to Johnson as he took on four tires and fuel.  Johnson remained the top-two for the remainder of the race, battling it out with the No. 13 driven by Matt Plumb. A long pit stop for four tires and fuel for the No. 15 on Lap 47 allowed for Plumb to take the lead but not for long.
Stealing the show from the pole qualifying team, the No. 15 Multimatic entry driven by Johnson was able to edge out Plumb with 30 minutes to go after chasing him down for several laps.

But the race for the win wasn’t over just yet.

Holton opened the race and pushed the Mustang Ford Shelby GT350R-C through the first half, with Kleinubing taking control through the final laps. He pushed all the way to the finish, coming up just over two seconds short of the win but still earning Ford a 1-2 finish.

“It was my first race in this car, and it’s a very different car to drive, for me,” Holton said. “I’ve driven both ST and GT cars, but nothing with that kind of torque and that small of a tire. The Continental Tires are really good. We had a really green track because it was raining all week and this was the first dry day. I didn’t have a single dry lap going into that race, so as we went on, the track got grippier and grippier and then greasier and greasier, so it was quite a handful! The car changed a lot. The track changed a lot over the course of the race, but the car is awesome. I can’t give the Mustang enough praise. It’s going to be a really good car for the (Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge championship) this year.”

After playing a key role in developing and winning with the Ford Performance Shelby GT350R-C in 2015, Johnson was ecstatic to open the year with a checkered-flag run and lead the Ford 1-2.

“It was great to see two Ford Performance Shelby GT350R-Cs on the podium after all the hard work everyone’s done getting the car to where it’s at,” Johnson said. “It’s the first time the car’s competed at Daytona and we’re really happy to be in victory lane with the car and a 1-2 finish for the GT350R-C. Scott (Maxwell) did a fantastic job on the first stint and I just can’t thank him and the team enough for all the hard work and good job they do.”

The No. 57 Lira Motorsports/Ford Performance driven by Michael Lira and Cameron finished seventh after a well fought run to round out the Ford Performance stable.

Credit:  http://racing.ford.com/series/road-racing/news/articles/2016/01/multimatic-shelby-gt350r-c-wins-ctsc-opener-in-first-appearance-.html

Johnson & Maxwell return to GS for 2016 in the #15 Shelby GT350R-C

Billy Johnson and Scott Maxwell return to the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series for the 2016 season piloting the No.15 Multimatic Motorsports Ford Performance Shelby GT350R-C.

​This marks the duos second year as co-drivers having garnered 3 pole positions and a victory last year at Lime Rock Park for a historic 1-2 finish for the Shelby GT350R-C.

"It's an honor to be driving with Scott again this year" said Johnson.  "His accomplishments speaks for themselves and I have learned a lot from him this past year.  We have great chemistry both on and off the track, which is really important for moving with the team toward the same goal."

​Over the past decade, Johnson and Maxwell account for almost every victory for the Blue Oval brand in the IMSA GS category driving the FR500C, Boss 302R, and now the GT350R-C. ​

Johnson & Maxwell WIN at Lime Rock for a historic 1-2 Finish for the  
Shelby GT350R-C

The Multimatic, Ford Performance team had only a week to build a brand new No. 15 Shelby GT350R-C from the ground-up after a backmarker caused Scott Maxwell to crash at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and subsequently destroyed the car.

"I was blown away that the guys in the shop built us a brand new car in that short of time" said Johnson. "I was honestly expecting to be running the old Boss 302R at Lime Rock but was ecstatic to be back in the GT350R-C for Lime Rock.  I can't thank everyone at Multimatic and Ford Performance for their hard work, dedication, and never give up attitude to work long nights to get a new car built for Scott and I."

After starting from the back of the pack due to electrical problems during qualifying, Scott Maxwell and Billy Johnson led a historic 1-2 finish for Ford and Multimatic as the duo brought the No. 15 Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C home in first place following two hours of hard fought racing. Billy Johnson in the No. 15 Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C crossed the line just over three seconds ahead of the sister No. 158 Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C of Austin Cindric and Jade Buford.

The win is the second consecutive IMSA race victory for the Multimatic Ford Shelby GT350R-C after Cindric and Buford combined to bring the car its breakthrough win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park just two weeks ago.  

“It was a great day,” said Multimatic’s Technical Director Larry Holt. “To finish 1-2, I mean Jade (Buford) did a fantastic job. It’s a bit of a Cinderella story, coming from the back in a car that happened to be built from scratch in the last week and a half. And we are really racing, there is nothing that gets left out there. Those Nissans were coming for us. I can’t say enough, Billy is a star, and Scott (Maxwell) did an incredible job coming from the back like he had to do."

In just three races, the Shelby GT350R-C has two poles and two wins. Both Multimatic cars have won with the new car showing the team’s versatility and talented drivers. The win Saturday was Maxwell’s 10th Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge victory and the 17th for Johnson.

About Billy:

Billy Johnson is an American professional race car driver competing in the WEC for Ford Chip Ganassi Racing in the #66 Ford GT and the IMSA Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS class for Multimatic Motorsports in the #15 Ford Performance Shelby GT350R-C with co-driver Scott Maxwell.

With 18 wins to his name, Billy is one of the most successful drivers in the CTSCC history.  In addition, Billy has multiple GT class podium finishes for Turner Motorsports, driving the BMW M3 in the IMSA GTD Class as well as driving the #007 Aston Martin Vantage in the 12 Hours of Sebring for Aston Martin Racing in the GTE class with Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana in 2013.

Johnson is a test driver for Multimatic and Ford Performance and helped develop the GTE/GTLM classed Ford GT racecar, Shelby GT350R-C racecar, GT350 & GT350R street cars, and Ford GT street cars.

He has been called to drive in numerous endurance races including the 24 Hours of Daytona in the #77 Doran Racing Ford Daytona Prototype to the #64 Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 to the #97 Turner Motorsport Z4 GT3.

Johnson is also a road-course specialist in the NASCAR Xfinity series and is hired by Ford to teaching advanced techniques to Ford's Sprint Cup and XFinity drivers on road course racing.

 Driving for Roush Fenway Racing with a career-best 8th place finish in the #60 at Montreal in 2012, Johnson made his oval racing debut at Loudon in 2013 in a Nationwide car finishing an impressive 15th position on the lead lap.  He also led laps in the #16 at Road America.  

Billy is an 8-time track record holder in Time Attack events driving an assortment of cars but most notable for piloting the FXMD Turbo NSX, the fastest Time Attack car in the country.  

Billy currently resides in Lake Worth, FL.

IMSA - Continental Tire 2016
Race Broadcast:

3 - Monterey Grand Prix (Laguna Seca) - 4th
​(Click Here)

2 - Sebring 150 (Sebring) - 2nd  (Click Here)

1 - CTSCC BMW Performance 200 (Daytona) - WIN    (Click Here)

IMSA Live Streaming:

CLICK HERE When races are in progress

Upcoming Events:

June 18-19th, 2016 - FIA WEC (GTE) - 24 HOURS OF LEMANS

June 30-July 2nd, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Watkins Glen, NY

July 8-9th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Mosport, ON

July 22-23th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Lime Rock Park, CT

August 5-6th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Elkhart Lake, WI

August 26-27th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Virginia International Raceway, VA

September 14-16th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Circuit of the Americas, TX

September 28-30th, 2016 - IMSA (GS) - Road Atlanta, GA

Billy Johnson & FX Motorsports Development re-set the Buttonwillow Track Record by ~3 seconds (1:37.520) as confirmation of fastest time attack car in the country.

Billy Johnson & FXMD beat HKS Japan's long-standing track record at Buttonwillow.  The only RWD car to do so!