In 1966, Ford completed an historic 1-2-3 finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kiwi duo Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon steered Ford’s car number 2, one of five GT40 MkII racers entered in the event, to victory, while cars number 1 (driven by Ken Miles and Denny Hulme) and 5 (Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson) rounded out the all-Blue Oval podium.
To celebrate 60 years since this remarkable feat, the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Goodwood Revival are set to reunite all three cars for the first time in a decade.
Chassis P/1046, P/1015, and P/1016 respectively will all be taking to Goodwood Hill during the Festival of Speed, held from July 9-12, with this year’s event celebrating some of the great motorsport showdowns under its ‘The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels’ theme.
Of course, Ford’s 1-2-3 finish was much to the fury of their chief rivals Ferrari, as the 2019 film Ford v Ferrari so aptly recalls.
“An intense personal rivalry between three influential figures in the auto industry sparked a fierce competition during the golden era of sports car racing,” said Aaron Shelby, board member of Carroll Shelby International and grandson of the automotive icon who masterminded the win.
“The epic struggle of Ford and Shelby against Ferrari played out at tracks around the globe, culminating at Le Mans in 1966. That incredible race, which continues to resonate with motorsports fans worldwide, shaped Shelby American’s destiny for the next 60 years.”
Later in the year, from September 18-20, the trio will be back at Goodwood for the 2026 Revival where they will run on the historic Motor Circuit, offering a rare chance for motorsport fans to see them in action.
“I am absolutely delighted that the historic 1-2-3 Ford GT Mk IIs will be reunited at Goodwood this year,” said Charles Gordon-Lennox, the 11th Duke of Richmond and Goodwood Festival of Speed founder.
“The legendary result of the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans is immortalised in motorsport history, and it will be incredibly special to see these three cars run together once again.
“We are hugely grateful to the Shelby family, Miller Family Automobile Foundation and Rob Kaufman, RK Motors for making this possible.”
In addition to attendance by the Shelby family, Shelby American plans to have an important presence at the Festival of Speed and Team Shelby, the international club, will bring a group from across the globe to the event.
Aaron Shelby will present the “Carroll Shelby Spirit Award” to The Duke of Richmond on behalf of Caroll Shelby International for his contributions to the auto industry. Previous Carroll Shelby Spirit Award recipients include Ken Miles, American designer Peter Brock, Edsel B. Ford II, Dan Gurney, Bruce Meyer, Don Prudhomme, Bob Bondurant, Allen Grant, Parnelli Jones, and Craig Jackson.
Further details for Goodwood’s 2026 events will be revealed over the coming months.
