Ford CEO Jim Farley racks up another vintage racing win

Ford CEO Jim Farley set a different podium on his racing résumé Sunday at Sebring, winning in a 1978 Cosworth Ford Lola T298 with co-driver Billy Johnson in the twelve-hour classic endurance race and spoiling an opponent’s prospects of taking home a fourth consecutive class acquire. 

Farley’s group took 1st in Group B at the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Vintage Sebring twelve Hour, Pistons and Props, presented by the Alan Jay Automotive Network, beating out three-peat winners Gray Gregory and Ethan Shippert in the Phil Reilly and Co. 1974 No. 26 Chevron B26. 

Farley is a member of the Sportscar Classic Racing Affiliation (SVRA) and a common competitor in classic racing gatherings and has explained racing as his particular equal to yoga. 

“I really feel undesirable for all people persons who just wake up on a weekend and just enjoy golfing,” Farley stated from the podium. Gearhead although he may be, Farley is aware where his bread is buttered. “I’ll make this limited. I’ll make this swift. Make sure you go get a Ford,” he concluded.

When he replaced former CEO Jim Hackett, he created it clear that he intended to proceed racing. He attained authorization from Executive Chairman Bill Ford to proceed racing in a person of the earliest discussions Farley can remember involving the two of them. 

Farley, of course, is not the only Detroit bigwig who sees the environmentally friendly flag from within a cockpit on weekends. Previous SRT boss and recent head of international style for Stellantis, Ralph Gilles, was recognised for piloting an entry in the SRT Viper Cup Series again when the automobiles had been in production, and has participated in various superior-profile aggressive gatherings, like the Targa Newfoundland and Mille Miglia. 

GM President Mark Reuss is a different bona fide competitor. Outside the house of Detroit, Toyota President Akio Toyoda and Stellantis Group boss Carlos Tavares both of those have impressing racing résumés of their own.