A year of progress pays off for Ford's GT3 program at Daytona
The No. 65 was steered masterfully by factory ace Dennis Olsen at the end of the race when an all-out brawl broke out between the front running pack in GTD PRO.
Seven cars finished on the lead lap in class, with heavy-hitters from Corvette, BMW, Mercedes and Ferrari also in the mix. But it was Ford that prevailed after the frantic run to the flag, with Olsen installed in the lead car and Seb Priaulx entrusted to drive the sister No. 64, which made it a double podium with a third-place finish.
'I was watching the mirror every single corner, watching for the Chevy coming up the inside,' Olsen said. 'I made sure to cover the gaps and hoped that the diffuser and the bumper wouldn't go off and get a technical flag, but luckily didn't.
'I think it was a faultless race by all the team, by all the drivers really.'
The turnaround for Ford's flagship GT racer has been remarkable. A year on from the car's rough debut in the 2024 edition of the Rolex 24, it looks like an entirely different prospect following Ford and Multimatic's move to fix the car's weaknesses and focus on extracting performance from its 5.4 liter V8.
'It's simply amazing,' Mies said when asked to describe the car's development over the past 12 months. 'We came here exactly a year ago, leading the race back then, which was fantastic for a new car. But like everyone, we had some issues.
'The most obvious change is that the rear deck lid isn't coming off anymore. We figured out quite quickly where the problem came from — obviously from side drafting. But to be honest, in development or testing, when do you ever side draft, right? It never happens.
'We had to learn the hard way in the first race, which is one of the toughest races in the world. So yeah, we had no preparation really to test that.
'But there have been things in the background and also on the team side, too. I must say this is probably the biggest improvement compared to last year. It just feels like we made another good step in terms of preparation.
'There's still things we need to improve for the future and people are working on that, but time will tell.'
As the time ticked away, the GTD PRO fight heated up beyond boiling, allowing the sister No. 64 up into third. Ford's hard work paying off with a double-podium was surely cause for celebration. Brandon Badraoui/Lumen
Battles in GTD PRO raged in the second half of the race. Corvette Racing vs. Paul Miller Racing stood out and will live long in memory after Augusto Farfus, Connor Di Phillippi and Tommy Milner came together while battling for the lead.
It was a fight in which Paul Miller utilized its delayed No. 48 BMW M4 GT3 EVO to block the No. 4 Corvette and allow the No. 1 to fight for the top spot. There was contact; there was damage and a post-stint war of words.
Milner described it as 'dirty' and 'disappointing' before Farfus defended his actions, claiming he had 'nothing to do with it' (the contact between the No. 4 and No. 1 at the International Horseshoe) explaining that his intention was simply to 'support' the sister car.
It didn't end there. The fight resumed in the run to the flag, with the No. 4 Corvette of Nicolas Varrone turning the No. 1 into a spin while dicing for podium spots, which he was later penalized for.
Ford got the benefit in two ways. First, the squabbling allowed Olsen to pull a gap with time expiring and second, it helped make sure that Ford beat its rivals from General Motors.
'I think from my side it was my target to make it difficult for them and make them fight,' Olsen added when asked to describe his run at the final restart. 'That was my only chance. They were quicker. Honestly, I had to defend my position and stay inside — that's the only thing. Once they start to fight, I could try to run away, and that's what we did.'
Frederic Vervisch, the third driver in the No. 65, joked that the team was under instruction from Ford's CEO Jim Farley this weekend.
'He said, 'Whatever you do, you have to be in front of Chevrolet,'' Vervisch said. 'Corvette are extremely strong, and I think they hid their A-game because suddenly they were going a lot faster than yesterday.
'I am super proud that we could stay ahead and maybe out-strategy them.'
Story originally appeared on Racer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Where Will Ford Motor Company Be in 3 Years?
Key Points Ford Motor recently announced stellar sales numbers for the second quarter. Tariffs will likely hurt its financials although the automaker should be able to work through it. Higher sales and higher costs may offset each other, potentially limiting Ford's near-term upside. 10 stocks we like better than Ford Motor Company › The automotive industry has been reeling for months following the Trump administration's announced tariffs, which have threatened to increase costs, likely leading to higher prices for consumers. Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) approached the situation aggressively, marketing to its American roots and offering vehicle buyers employee-level pricing for a three-month period. It worked. Ford recently announced fantastic second-quarter vehicle sales, including an estimated 1.8-percentage-point gain in market share. Now, the company has followed it up with a new promotion aimed at lowering up-front costs for buyers. With Ford building sales momentum, it's fair to ask where the stock might be in three years. I dove into the numbers to find out. Here is what you need to know. Combating tariff headwinds with volume Despite Ford's standing as a leading American vehicle brand, it is a global business, both in supply chain and in sales. The tricky part is figuring out just how tariffs will affect the company, which is remarkably difficult due to the Trump Administration's inconsistent messaging on policy. As of first-quarter earnings, management was anticipating a net headwind of $1.5 billion to Ford's 2025 earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT). It appears that part of Ford's strategy has been to lean into the tariff headwinds as an opportunity to leverage its American identity with U.S. consumers. Ford extended employee-level pricing to buyers as part of its "From America, For America" campaign. The promotion, which ran from early April to early July, was a winner. Ford's vehicle sales skyrocketed by 14.2% in Q2 2025, including: The highest Q2 sales for F-Series trucks since 2019. Record sales for electric vehicles. The highest volume for the Lincoln brand since 2007. 20% growth in paid subscriptions for Ford Pro software. Automotive manufacturers have high fixed costs associated with operating factories. Investors will need to see management's updated financial outlook when Ford releases its full Q2 earnings on July 30. Still, it would prove a savvy move by Ford if the company could grow its sales volume enough to offset tariff-related costs, while boosting market share and giving the Ford brand some momentum in the process. Ford's fundamentals remain resilient Tariffs, in some shape or form, are looming. Analysts have already baked a sizable hit to earnings into Ford's 2025 estimates. The consensus on Wall Street is that earnings will drop from $1.84 per share last year to an estimated $1.12 this year. Beyond the effect on earnings, the important takeaway is that Ford can remain profitable. While investors must read between the lines until Ford releases its Q2 earnings, management probably wouldn't follow its Q2 promotion with another campaign if the company were losing more money selling all those additional vehicles. The dividend, yielding over 5.3%, is still just 54% of 2025 earnings estimates, and management reiterated Ford's balance sheet strength in Q1, which ended with $27 billion in cash and $45 billion in total liquidity. Ford should have ample financial resources to weather the tariff uncertainty, and its decision to pursue market share in this situation underscores that confidence. Where might the stock be in three years? It's worth noting that the auto industry is highly competitive, and companies must continually invest in updating, maintaining, and upgrading expensive factories. Ford is a significant industry player, yet its stock has still badly lagged the broader stock market over time. Therefore, even if Ford successfully navigates the tariff headwinds, it's not guaranteed to yield great investment results. Currently, Ford's free cash flow yield is 20%, on par with its average over the past decade. It's tough to envision the stock fetching a higher valuation while tariffs continue to weigh on the business. The hope is that Ford sells more vehicles at lower margins (due to tariffs) to the point that free cash flow grows. Upcoming Q2 earnings will give investors a fresh set of expectations regarding how tariffs will affect Ford's profits. Keep in mind that Ford's current valuation reflects pre-tariff cash flows. I suspect that Ford will be working back to 2024 profits over the next few years. When it all shakes out, much of the tariff-related costs and higher sales volume could somewhat offset each other. In that scenario, the stock price may not change much. Ford's 5.3% dividend could represent a significant portion of the stock's investment returns. So, for now, it appears that Ford stock has limited upside over the next three years. Of course, that could change as the tariff situation evolves. Should you buy stock in Ford Motor Company right now? Before you buy stock in Ford Motor Company, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Ford Motor Company wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $634,627!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,046,799!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,037% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 21, 2025 Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Where Will Ford Motor Company Be in 3 Years? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Automakers are going big on in-car subscriptions. Are customers buying it?
Consumers don't want to pay for it. Automakers are still pushing hard. In-car subscriptions have become a growing obsession for many automakers which see strong revenue potential from recurring customer payments. But it appears that initial attempts to paywall built-in hardware and software features, such as cameras, sensors or navigation perks, haven't been too successful, with few drivers willing to take on yet another monthly bill. That has brought automakers to their next challenge: convincing customers to subscribe. An S&P Global Mobility survey this month found the number of respondents who were willing to pay for connected services in their vehicle dropped to 68 per cent this year, compared with 86 per cent in 2024. "Subscription-based services (navigation, Wi-Fi, etc.) are increasingly being met with resistance from price-sensitive consumers who may not see the value in paying recurring fees for features they do not frequently use," the report said. Drivers now have a range of options to subscribe to: semi-autonomous driving, roadside assistance, in-vehicle apps, stolen vehicle assistance and access to Wi-Fi — all at different price tiers. However, steep subscription costs on top of sticker prices of new vehicles remain one of the biggest barriers for many consumers. To get past that, some automakers are offering temporary complementary access to connective services in hopes of gaining loyal customers. Ford Motor Co.'s semi-autonomous driving feature costs between $650 and $900 per year after a 90-day free trial, for example. General Motors Co.'s OnStar subscription can be as high as $39.99 a month after a free trial, according to its website. Automakers which are known for their affordable prices have also joined the race for subscription-based connected services. Kia Corp., for example, has a three-tier subscription offering for owners following a three-year free trial period, which offers services such as a charging station locator, digital key access via smartphone and roadside emergency services. The subscription model is in its evolution phase, said Stephanie Brinley, associate director of autointelligence at S&P Global Mobility. "We're trying to figure out what consumers are willing to pay for, how much they're willing to, (and) how they want it bundled," she said. Despite the initial resistance, automakers haven't given up yet. Instead, they're rolling out brand new technology and features in the hopes of enticing drivers to pay for subscriptions. "They're pivoting to that new tech," said Daniel Ross, senior manager of industry insights with Canadian Black Book. "It's more on what's new and what they've never had before." Ross said as newer technology comes out, there will be more opportunities for automakers to release new generations of cars with updated software. And that's one of the pitches for customers to subscribe, he added. "If you want that type of technology that's advanced, that's the newest age, that's something you can tell your friends about, this is the way you pay for it," Ross said. Brinley said automakers are building a road map to help scale this in-car technology and these features to make it more affordable for consumers in the long run — all while keeping personalization at its core. "Once you have the platform and the service developed, the margin is really high," Brinley said. "The fact that it's connected is not really the element that consumers get excited about," she said. "It's what does that connectivity do for you as an owner?" Some customers may find value in GM's OnStar safety and security package that alerts for help during a crash, while others may subscribe to Ford's self-driving feature for a month-long road trip. "The appeal of a feature is that it makes driving easier," she said. Brinley said automakers have started to talk about their revenue expectations from subscription-based services more concretely. That "means they're making progress," she said. On recent earnings calls, GM projected revenue from its hands-free feature, Super Cruise, will be more than $200 million in 2025 and is expected to more than double in 2026. Meanwhile, Ford said the number of its vehicles equipped with the hands-free driving feature, BlueCruise, have more than doubled in the last year to just under 700,000 units. "You can see our relationship with our customers no longer ends the point of sale or financing. We're starting to build lasting relationships and creating new avenues for reoccurring growth at Ford," CEO Jim Farley told analysts during its fourth-quarter earnings call. Ross said automakers are banking on the trickle-down effect of the connected services subscription. Often, features first introduced to high-end customers gradually filter their way down to mainstream customers, who are looking for affordable and budget-conscious options, he explained. Brinley said the subscription model is still in its early stages. As it progresses, so will consumer expectations. "If you have a car that has some of these features and then you go to buy the next car, you think that it just should be there," Brinley said. As consumers get more used to connectivity, their expectation of what comes with a vehicle and what they're going to pay will also evolve, she said. "There's probably going to be a lot of flexibility over time in how people choose to consume that," Brinley said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025. Ritika Dubey, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Honda Will Sell You Insurance, but Says It Won't Track Your Driving
Honda now offers insurance but says it will not track your driving. Many carmakers offer their own insurance or offer it through a partner. Many such policies include data gathered while you drive to gauge whether you're a safe driver. Some offer discounts for ADAS safety systems. Honda has joined Tesla, Ford, GM and other carmakers in offering its own insurance at the time it sells you a car. It used to be that after you picked the car you wanted, you'd be sent to the dealer's F&I department where they'd sell you financing and insurance, often through third parties. Now you can do the insurance directly with Honda, and other carmakers. Policies will be offered by Honda Insurance Solutions, which Honda says is a licensed insurance agency that provides 'competitive pricing and coverage options for autos, motorcycles, homes, and more.' Honda's new insurance agency will work with omnichannel insurance brokerage VIU by HUB 'to offer fast and easy quoting and advice, all found at While many carmakers use data on your driving to set insurance rates, Honda says it will not do that, saying, simply, 'We are not providing data to insurers to offer safe driver discounts.' Honda is not the first carmaker to offer its own insurance, of course. Premium Based on How You Drive Tesla created an insurance program tailored to take into account its autopilot and full self-driving (FSD) features. The Tesla program is priced based on how much a car owner is behind the wheel and on how safely they drive. 'We base your premium on how you drive,' Tesla says on its website. 'We use existing technology in our vehicles to track your real-time driving behavior, no additional hardware required.' This would drive King of the Hill character, the paranoid Dale Gribble, crazy. In 2018 a company called Swiss Re, the world's largest reinsurer, partnered with BMW to build the Swiss Re ADAS risk score, a vehicle-specific insurance rating that influences how primary insurance companies rate insurance premiums based on vehicle features and risks associated with each vehicle type. Discount for Safe Driving In 2020, Ford partnered with Nationwide to create Nationwide's SmartRide usage-based insurance program, according to Nationwide News, an in-house department of the insurer. With the program, drivers share their vehicle connectivity information with Nationwide and their connected vehicle will track and share distance driven, hard braking and accelerating, idle time, and night driving to establish a policy rate. The data are shared with Nationwide through the vehicle's embedded modem, eliminating the need for a special app or vehicle plug-in device. Customers are eligible for up to a 40% discount, Nationwide says, which will be applied when the policy is renewed. Rivian partnered with Nationwide and Cincinnati Insurance to offer their own user-based program. The program uses Rivian's Driver+ suite of ADAS features like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and automatic emergency braking, as well as its hands-free driving on selected highways to track drivers' performance. The more a Rivian driver uses Driver+, the more they are discounted on their monthly premium, said. OnStar Doesn't Need an App General Motors OnStar Insurance is available in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles that are model year 2016 or newer, uses OnStar to track driving behavior, and bases your insurance rates on how safely you drive. 'Instead of plugging in a gadget or downloading an app to assess your driving, we can use the technology already working in your connected vehicle,' GM says. 'Now more than ever, you can influence your auto insurance premium by driving safely.' OnStar tracks things like seat belt usage, aggressive braking, hard cornering, high speed driving and, again, night driving to determine your insurance rates. Volvo, which markets its safety features heavily, partnered with Liberty Mutual in 2017 to create the insurer's new TechSafety program. The program builds on the success of the Volvo City Safety technology which includes pedestrian, cyclist, and large animal detection with automatic emergency braking, Liberty Mutual said. 'We believe vehicles equipped with these types of advanced safety features will not only reduce crashes but help our customers worry less on the road while providing them new ways to save on their auto insurance,' said Hamid Mirza, senior vice president of product strategy and solutions at Liberty Mutual Insurance. The company cited a report from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) that showed cars outfitted with Volvo City Safety reduced rear end crashes by 41% and injuries by 47%. Mercedes-Benz also partnered with Liberty Mutual to offer their car owners customized insurance policies through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, which are tailored to save Mercedes drivers money if they drive safely. Like the other automakers, they offer telematics-based insurance solutions such as Pay-How-You-Drive, which allows safe drivers to earn a discount for low mileage and safe driving behavior. So these programs are good if you're a safe driver, maybe even a boring driver, but bad if you drive like an idiot. Like lap times, they reward smoothness. Have you been able to save money on insurance by changing your driving habits? Please comment below.
