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The Rolex 24 was the perfect event to discuss the Ford v Ferrari film’s digital release and upcoming BluRay and DVD of this unforgettable Matt Damon and Christian Bale motorsport masterpiece. Photo credit: Kasia Pogorzelski.
We cornered Stunt Coordinator Robert Nagle and one of the drivers on the Ford v Ferrari film, Jeff Bucknum (yes, that Bucknum), the son of race car driver Ronnie Bucknum who drove the No. 5 GT40 in the 1966 Le Mans 24h race. Nagle has been the stunt lead on a few films with wild driving sequences such as Baby Driver, Spider-Man: Homecoming, John Wick 2, Mission Impossible, and Captain Marvel. Nagle gave us an inside look at how the film came together since the entire movie was driving-centric and not just related to a few scenes.
Christian Bale was a fantastic driver and, hands down, the best actor I have given driving instruction to. — Stunt Coordinator, Robert Nagle
Ford v Ferrari stunt coordinator, Robert Nagle, has been the stunt boss on a few films, including Baby Driver, Spider-Man: Homecoming, John Wick 2, Mission Impossible, and Captain Marvel. Photo credit: Kasia Pogorzelski.
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“The hardest scenes in the movie were when the cars were flying through the air and tumbling,“ says Nagle. “It was very challenging to get the timing right, and have the rest of the traffic in the right spot, take after take, to hit their mark.”

How did this translate to the dozens of stunt drivers on set? Well, we questioned Jeff Bucknum, who had an extremely important connection to the film. As mentioned above, his father Ronnie was the co-driver of the Holman Moody Ford GT40, the No.5 car that placed Third crossing the finish line in the legendary scene that saw Bruce McLaren ironically take the win.
“When we did the finish line scene, my Dad’s car actually came in Third, but I joked to the stunt team that I was gonna gas it and place first for his memory. So, I did just that on the first take, even though the director was yelling: cut!” – Jeff Bucknum. Photo credit: Kasia Pogorzelski.

“I drove six cars in the movie, but driver Tanner Foust and Robert Nagle were gracious enough to allow me to drive my Dad’s replica car in the movie,” says Bucknum. “And I took some liberties during filming since we did a lot of driving.

“When we did the finish line scene, my Dad’s car actually came in Third, but I joked to the stunt team that I was gonna gas it and place first for his memory. So, I did just that on the first take, even though the director was yelling ‘cut.’ It was a very emotional moment for me. But, it was important to put all that emotion into the driving scenes I was part of since the last time I raced was 2012, so it meant a lot.”
“Christian Bale was a fantastic driver and, hands down, the best actor I have given driving instruction too” – Robert Nagle. Photo credit: Kasia Pogorzelski.