Ford Versus Ferrari: The Battle for Supremacy at Le Mans 1966 - Hardcover

by John Starkey (Author)

Long before the Hollywood lights - this is the true, full-throttle story behind the Ford-Ferrari war that defined a racing era.

Ford versus Ferrari goes far beyond the dramatized 2019 film to deliver the definitive, richly detailed account of the personalities, machines, politics, and motivations that clashed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. With an insider's grasp and a historian's eye, John Starkey uncovers the real drama behind the corporate rivalry that reshaped motorsport.

From Henry Ford II's failed bid to buy Ferrari to the last-minute technical fixes and pitlane tensions, this book unpacks how the GT40 emerged as both a symbol and a weapon in Ford's quest to dominate endurance racing. Along the way, readers will meet the figures at the heart of the story - Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby, Enzo Ferrari, and many more - in all their complexity.

Author Biography

John Starkey is a lifelong racing enthusiast whose career has spanned the track, the showroom, and the archive. Originally from Birmingham, UK, he has competed in rallies, hill-climbs, and vintage races since the 1960s, and has owned and restored numerous sports cars. Before turning full-time to motorsport history, he managed comedian Jasper Carrott and curated the renowned Donington racing car collection.
Now based in Florida, Starkey runs a specialist racing car business and works as a consultant, researcher, and author. He has written multiple respected titles for Veloce, establishing himself as one of the foremost chroniclers of racing car development, with particular expertise on the GT40, Lola, and endurance racing history.