Ford Performance will enter the LMDh class of the World Endurance Championship in 2027. The goal is overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans against fierce rivals like Ferrari and Porsche. Ford’s last entry in the top-tier class took place in 1982,

Ford announced plans Thursday to enter an LMDh prototype in the World Endurance Championship in 2027, taking the American manufacturer back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the top category of sports car racing.

After the 1960s, Ford exited from the top-tier prototype class and competed in production-focused class racing around the world. In 2016, it won the Le Mans GT class with a mid-engine GT, and then finished second in the GT class last year with the debut of its Mustang GT3.