Ford has finalized its 2027 Hypercar driver lineup for the FIA World Endurance Championship, confirming Matt Campbell as the centerpiece of the Blue Oval’s return to top-tier endurance racing for the first time in almost six decades.
Campbell: The Crown Jewel of Ford’s Signings
The announcement, made at Le Mans on Friday, caps weeks of speculation about Campbell’s departure from Porsche after a decade-long affiliation that saw him rise from Porsche Junior to works driver status.
Campbell’s credentials are unbeatable:
Reigning 2025 IMSA GTP champion with Porsche Penske Motorsport
Two-time IMSA title-holder (one overall, one in-class)
2024 24 Hours of Daytona overall winner
Hypercar winner in FIA WEC at COTA (September 2025)
2018 24 Hours of Le Mans class winner (GTE Pro)
Two Bathurst 12 Hour overall victories in native Australia
“I’m extremely excited and proud to be joining Ford Racing’s new Hypercar programme,” Campbell enthused, the Australian ace now ready to chase his biggest remaining goal: overall victory at Le Mans.
“Ford has a longstanding history of success at the top levels of motorsport and at Le Mans, which is something I am also chasing, and I believe this is the right place to achieve that goal together,” he added.
Ford’s Complete 2027 Hypercar Roster
Blomqvist & Yelloly: Acura IMSA GTP Refugees Join Campbell
Both Tom Blomqvist and Nick Yelloly arrive from the factory Acura Meyer Shank Racing program in IMSA, which concludes at the end of the 2026 season.
Blomqvist (32 years old) brings extensive prototype, GT, and single-seater experience:
Twice outright winner of Rolex 24 at Daytona
Multiple podium-finisher in-class in FIA WEC
Eager to “help shape its development and work towards the shared goal of bringing Ford back to the top step of the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans”
Yelloly adds proven 24-hour endurance winning capability and F1 technical depth:
Le Mans class winner
Nürburgring class winner
Spa-Francorchamps overall winner
IMSA GTP race-winner
Formula 1 simulator and development driver background (adds invaluable technical depth)
“Being part of the line-up bringing back the legendary ‘Blue Oval’ to Le Mans is a big honour and I’m very grateful for the opportunity,” Yelloly said.
The “Previously Announced” Trio: Sargeant, Rockenfeller, Priaulx
Ford confirmed these three drivers back in January 2026 as part of their nascent Hypercar project:
Logan Sargeant: American F1 driver (Williams) bringing factory American racing blood to the lineup
Mike Rockenfeller: German veteran with Daytona and Rolex 500 wins, former Audi factory driver
Sebastian Priaulx: British Ford factory GT driver with multiple WEC wins
Ford Racing Director’s Vision: “Returning to Fight for Overall Victory”
Ford Racing Global Director Mark Rushbrook made no apologies for the program’s ambition:
“At Ford Racing, competition runs through our veins, and as America’s Race Team, it is only right that we carry the banner ourselves,” Rushbrook explained.
“With the additions of Matt, Nick and Tom alongside Logan, Rocky and Seb, we have finalised a driver line-up capable of winning races. We aren’t just returning to participate – we are returning to fight for overall victory, and this complete roster gives us the perfect foundation to achieve that goal”.
The Car: ORECA Chassis + 5.4L “Coyote” V8
The Ford Hypercar features technical specifications that link directly to Ford’s production performance vehicles:
Chassis: Developed in partnership with ORECA
Engine: 5.4-litre, naturally-aspirated “Coyote” V8
Engine origin: Designed and built in-house at Ford’s Michigan base
Technology transfer: Powerplant serves as “direct link to Ford’s production performance vehicles, accelerating the transfer of technology between racetrack and road”
“The engine’s development phase is already showing great promise on the dyno in Dearborn, where we’ve been pushing the limits of its performance and durability,” revealed Ford Racing FIA WEC Hypercar Programme Manager Dan Sayers.
Testing Schedule: August 2026 Track debut
Ford’s comprehensive track testing schedule begins this August 2026 at various European circuits, focusing on:
Performance validation
Reliability testing
Hybrid system integration
Aerodynamic validation
Conditions simulating rigours of FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans
“Having Matt, Nick and Tom on-board early is a massive boost. Their combined feedback in the simulator and during our upcoming testing across Europe will be vital as we transition from the virtual world to the track,” Sayers noted.
Campbell after 10 years and an outright IMSA Championship with Porsche
05 CAMPBELL Matt (aus), CHRISTENSEN Michael (dnk), MAKOWIECKI Frédéric (fra), Porsche Penske Motorsport, Porsche 963 #05, Hypercar, FIA WEC, action during the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, 4th round of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, from June 15 to 16, 2024 in Le Mans, France – Photo Javier Jimenez / DPPI
What Campbell Is Leaving: Porsche’s Decade-Long Affiliation Ends
Campbell’s move to Ford represents the end of a 10-year partnership with Porsche that included:
Porsche Junior program graduation
Works driver status elevation
Class victory at 2018 Le Mans
Multiple IMSA championships
2024 Daytona overall win
Campbell was reassigned to a partial-season program with Porsche Penske this year in anticipation of his Ford signing.
What This Means for 2027 WEC
Campbell’s arrival transforms Ford’s championship prospects immediately. As the reigning IMSA GTP champion with a proven WEC Hypercar winning record at COTA, he brings the exact combination of “championship-winning experience, prototype expertise and raw speed” Rushbrook demanded.
The trio of Campbell, Blomqvist, and Yelloly—all IMSA GTP stalwarts—gives Ford instant credibility in the Hypercar class, where they’ll compete against Ferrari, Porsche, Toyota, BMW, Cadillac, and Genesis.
With testing starting August 2026 and the 2027 WEC calendar expanding to nine rounds (including Silverstone’s return), Ford’s timeline is aggressive but realistic
