Ford GT: testing the latest generation of the legendary sports car

The race version has already won Le Mans. What’s the road version like?

Just like its 1960s GT40 ancestor, Ford designed the new 2017 GT to go racing. And win races. Specifically, the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. At the first time of asking, it did just that, scooping a 2016 victory at a canter.

This already makes it a worthy successor to the original, which dominated the race between 1966 and 1969. And, just like the original, Ford is now rolling out the road-going versions, as part of race regulations that stipulate track cars must have street car siblings.

The £420,000 Ford GT is the result, all 647bhp of it. The engine is a twin-turbo V6, it has a seven-speed automatic gearbox, and will do 216mph all-out. It’s every bit as fearsome as the hardcore Ferrari 458 Speciale and McLaren 675LT.

But what’s it like in action? Is it really the car to take on such famed competitors and live up to the reputation of its poster car predecessor? Autocar’s Matt Prior buckles up to find out – watch how he got on both on road and track.

Rob Adams is a writer for AutoCar.