Ford celebrates GT’s Le Mans win

Ford Motor Co.’s Le Mans triumph celebration was lit.

The Dearborn automaker illuminated its Glass House head office Monday and Tuesday night with the expression “GT Wins at LeMans” to celebrate its first-place finish last month at the French endurance race.

The lights could be compared to the celebration after Ford won the race in the late 1960s. Ford first swept to victory there in 1966 and followed it up with success in 1967, 1968 and 1969. Following its 1967 win, the automaker spelled out the phrase “Won Le Mans” in the windows of its world head office on Michigan Avenue.

Now recently, the Ford GT positioned initially, third and fourth in its class at the 24-hour race.

Dirk Muller, Joey Hand and Sebastien Bourdais piloted the No. 68 GT to the first-place triumph. Hand remained in the driver’s seat when the GT took top place in the 20th hour and never ever gave it up.

The lights became part of a larger celebration. Le Mans motorists, together with group owner Chip Ganassi, checked out Ford headquarters Tuesday to provide the winning trophy to employees. The motorists signed autographs, presented for photos and contributed items used during the race to the Henry Ford Museum.