Ford's New WEC Engine Is Based On The Coyote V8: 'We Are Doing Everything In-House'

The naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 is a derivative of the engines that power the Mustang GT3 and GT4.

Ford Mustang Dark Horse (2024)

Anthony Alaniz

By: Anthony Alaniz

Jan 15, at 8:29pm ET

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THE BREAKDOWN:

A Coyote-based naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 will power Ford’s WEC Hypercar.
Ford is developing the engine in-house, and it’s a derivative of the engine that powers the Mustang GT3 and GT4.
Ford’s 2027 WEC team includes Sebastian Priaulx, Mike 'Rocky' Rockenfeller, and Logan Sargeant.

A naturally aspirated 5.4-liter V8 engine will power Ford’s upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar when it returns to the series in 2027. It’s based on Ford’s 5.0-liter Coyote and is a derivative of the engines that power the Mustang GT3 and GT4.

Ford developed the engine entirely in-house, with the company’s Dearborn team "working hand-in-glove with Red Bull Ford Powertrains." The car this new engine will go into is still in development.

"We are doing everything in-house. We’re doing that because we can react faster, we can learn faster, and we can bring that back to the production side of the business," said Dan Sayers, Ford Performance WEC Hypercar program manager, during a briefing on Ford’s WEC program.

Ford Mustang GT3

Ford Mustang GT3

The engine will power a chassis designed by ORECA, the French race car manufacturer. When Ford announced that it would return to the series, it said it would build a car to the LMDh ruleset, a creation of IMSA, which governs motorsports in America, and the governing body of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the ACO.

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Racing for Ford next year will be Sebastian Priaulx, Mike "Rocky" Rockenfeller, and Logan Sargeant. Ahead of the 2027 season, Priaulx and Rockenfeller will compete in the European Le Mans Series’ LMP2 class in 2026.

Ford Mustang GT3

Motor1’s Take: Ford’s return to WEC will be different this time around as the automaker competes for overall victories, especially at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford previously raced the GT in the LMGTE Pro class.

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