Ford GT returns to racetrack, production

The car will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine that produces more than 600 horseppower. Above: A GT in Frozen White, with a Race Red stripe.

A GT in Matte Black. Eight exterior colors can be paired with one of seven different stripe colors.

The teardrop-shape carbon-fiber body is the result of extensive work in the wind tunnel.

The street version of the Ford GT, which goes on sale in very limited quantities later this year, got plenty of attention last year at the 2015 North American International Auto Show.

The street-version supercar is powered by a 600-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine, which has similar architecture to engines on other Ford vehicles like the F-150.

The all-new carbon-fiber Ford GT supercar features rear-wheel drive, a mid-mounted engine, and a sleek, aerodynamic, two-door coupe body shell.

Ford will limit production of the supercar to 250 a year.

The interior on the two-seat, carbon-fiber, mid-engined Ford GT supercar is accessed by upward-swinging doors.

On the Ford GT supercar, every slope and shape is designed to minimize drag and optimize downforce, and each surface on the GT is functionally crafted to manage airflow.

The Ford GT serves as a test bed for technologies, lightweighting techniques and features that could become commonplace on future vehicles throughout Ford's lineup.

The Ford GT's unveiling last year prompted a number of tweets from Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who has been appreciative of the GT's features and has asked how to buy one.

Ford's application wants to know about any vehicle-related charitable activities or contributions; if the applicant is a car collector, and if so, how many Fords and Lincolns are in their collection; and if the applicant is a public figure such as a professional athlete, TV personality or a member of the motorsports community.

The GT's Gorilla Glass windshield is 12 pounds lighter than a traditional windshield -- a 30 percent weight savings -- and is scratch-resistant.

Ford Performance marketing manager Henry Ford III said the company knew it wanted to return to the race for the 50th anniversary of the Le Mans win after realizing they could build both a successful race and street version of the vehicle.

The racing version of the GT returned to the racetrack in 2016 for the first time since 1969. It competed Jan. 30-31 in the Rolex 24 at the Daytona International Speedway.

Ford raced two GTs (the No. 66 and No. 67) alongside two prototype vehicles in the Daytona event.

At Daytona, braking issues, blown tires and faulty transmissions forced the two GTs back into the garage for hours of the marathon event.

The new Ford GT race car will be campaigned by Chip Ganassi Racing, and will compete in June in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France.

Members of Chip Ganassi Racing’s roughly 40-member pit crew tune up the Nos. 66 and 67 Ford GT cars the day before the 2016 Rolex 24 in Daytona.

At the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, two Ford GT40 Mark II cars were close at the finish line, with the Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon car declared the winner. It was the first win at Le Mans for an American car.