Following intense development works accomplished during the recent winter months Matech Concepts presented its new project to the public. The new generation Ford GT1, built according to the new GT 2010 regulations, was to be unveiled at the FIA-GT Media & Test Days held on the High Tech Test Track Paul-Ricard of April 6th and 7th, 2009.

By doing so, and after 2 years of successful FIA-GT3 engagement, Matech Concepts is now stepping up into the queen of GT racing series. 2008 saw the still very young Swiss racing team achieving its foremost success so far by being awarded the GT3 European Teams Champion title. The worthy successor of the legendary GT40 of the 60's is expected to bring some fresh fury into the GT1 category as of 2009 already.

The official race debut of the Ford GT1 is to coincide with the kick-off of the FIA-GT season on May 3rd in Silverstone where a Matech livered Ford GT will be competing side-by-side with the first ever delivered new generation customer Ford GT1. Further teams are already getting seriously interested.

"We consider 2009 as a development year to gather as much knowledge as possible before the launch of the FIA-GT World Championship in 2010, but based on last year's successful GT3 experience we feel extremely confident about the car's competitiveness right from the start of the season" Martin Bartek, the man in charge of Matech GT Racing, commented.

The new Ford GT1 reflects in true fashion the spirit of its historic predecessor, the legendary GT40 of the 1960s. Having returned to motorsport in the GT3 class in 2007, the Ford GT will represent this heritage at the pinnacle of GT racing from 2009 as a GT1 car. Based on one of the most powerful V8 engines in Ford's modular engine family, the Ford GT1 Cammer 5.0L engine produces 600 bhp and 640 Nm of torque. Both figures are very impressive even when compared to those of the 7-litre engine that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966 and 1967. Owing to an 8 single butterfly inlet manifold, the output of the latest GT1 car's engine has been increased by 50 bhp when compared to the GT3 version. Matech Concepts has proven the Ford GT's value in winning the 2008 FIA GT3 European Teams Championship. It is now time to enter the next level: Matech Concepts is anticipating a new era in GT racing with the Ford GT1.

The Ford GT1, developed by Matech Concepts, will be the first of the new-generation GT1 cars to be entered in the FIA GT Championship on a full-season basis. Two cars will be entered in 2009, the first by Matech GT Racing, and the second by Belgian team Marc VDS Racing. As well as being eligible for GT1 Championship points, a separate classification will allow the winning '2010 Generation car' to come to the podium and press conference at each round.

(Source - https://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/4117/Matech-Ford-GT1.html)

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Original author: BEM
Updates: ChemFlummi, PaddockClubMods

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