Witness History: Iconic 1966 Ford Le Mans Trio Returns to the Circuit

By Tara Hurlin

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January 16, 2026

• In 2026, the legendary Ford GT Mk IIs that secured the historic 1-2-3 finish at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans will reunite for the first time in a decade. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Ford’s landmark triumph over Ferrari, the three iconic cars will appear together at two major motorsport events in the United Kingdom: the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Goodwood Revival.

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The Legendary Trio Returns

Owned by the Miller Family Automobile Foundation and Rob Kauffman of RK Motors, these vehicles have not run together since 2016. The upcoming reunion offers a rare opportunity to see the chassis that reshaped endurance racing:

• Chassis P/1046 (1st Place): The black-and-silver car #2, driven by Bruce McLarenand Chris Amon, which famously won due to starting farther back on the grid than its rival.
• Chassis P/1015 (2nd Place): The blue car #1, piloted by Ken Miles and Denny Hulme, which led most of the race before the controversial staged photo finish.
• Chassis P/1016 (3rd Place): The gold car #5, driven by Ronnie Bucknum and Dick Hutcherson, which completed the podium sweep.

Legacy of the 1966 1-2-3 Finish

The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans marked the definitive end of Ferrari’s supremacy. Ford entered a fleet of GT40s featuring massive 7.0-liter V8 engines, which outpowered Ferrari’s smaller, more agile V12s.

The race concluded with a historic 1-2-3 sweep for Ford, marking the first time an American manufacturer won the event. Despite the victory, a controversy emerged: Ken Miles, who was leading, was ordered by Ford executives to slow down for a staged photo finish with the other two Fords. This allowed the #2 car (driven by Bruce McLaren) to be declared the winner because it had started further back on the grid and thus covered more distance.

The 1966 victory was the culmination of Henry Ford II’s personal mission to dethrone Ferrari. It marked the first overall win for an American manufacturer at Le Mans and began a four-year winning streak for the GT40 (1966–1969).

Where to See the Reunion in 2026

Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 9–12, 2026): Under the theme “The Rivals – Epic Racing Duels,” the three cars will fire up their 7.0-liter V8 engines to replicate their famous photo finish on the Goodwood Hill.

Goodwood Revival (September 18–20, 2026): Fans will witness the trio lapping the historic Goodwood Motor Circuit together, marking a high point of the 60th-anniversary celebrations.

The reunion will also feature members of the Shelby family, including Aaron Shelby, who will present the “Carroll Shelby Spirit Award” to the Duke of Richmond to honor the enduring partnership between Ford, Shelby, and Goodwood. Tickets for these 2026 events are available at Goodwood.com.