Ford to field three cars for Sebring 12h

Fresh from the Blue Oval's success in the GT Le Mans category in the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where all four of the Ganassi-run Ford GTs were in action, one of the team's WEC cars will once again join the two regular IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entries for Sebring.

Olivier Pla, Stefan Mucke and Billy Johnson will team up again in Ford's #68 car for the second event of the 2017 IMSA schedule.

Rolex 24 class winners Dirk Muller, Joey Hand and Sebastien Bourdais return in the #66 machine, along with Richard Westbrook, Ryan Briscoe and Scott Dixon in car #67.

The #69 car, driven by Harry Tincknell, Andy Priaulx and Tony Kanaan at Daytona, is absent as Ford begins preparations for the WEC Prologue test at Monza next month.

“This is another great opportunity for our WEC and IMSA teams to work together as the opportunity to data share is invaluable,” said Ganassi of his team's Sebring assault.

“There are not a lot of opportunities for us to get together so when we have the chance we will always try to take advantage of it. 

"Plus, to be able to bring another car to a legendary endurance event like Sebring is something special to all of us.”

Ford Performance global director Dave Pericak added: “We wish we could send all four cars like we did at Daytona, but the WEC cars will already be prepped for the Prologue test at Monza and the first race at Silverstone.

“Even though it’s impossible to bring all of our Ford GTs, we didn’t want to see this important opportunity to continue our cross-development pass us by.”