Ford V Ferrari was set in a time when Ferrari was dominating the podium at the legendary race of 24 hours of Le Mans. The Ford Motor Company was facing a sales crisis, and felt that they weren’t really being recognized by the younger generation.
The solution they devised? Easy. Beat Ferrari at their own game to attract the attention they needed.
Easier said than done might be an understatement.
Ford went to Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, who we now know as the maker of the Shelby Mustang, for help building and designing the car. It would go on to be called the GT40.
The GT40. Photo taken from RobbReport.com
Winning races isn’t just about making the right car, though, it’s about finding the right driver, too. For the Ford GT40, that person was Ken Miles.
The racer did extensive testing on the car, helping Ford & Shelby improve the power, weight and much more. In the film, he and the team resort to some rather curious methods, such as taping wool strands to the car to see how it would affect airflow.
Ken was quick to anger, but had almost unmatched skill on the track. This was what made him so valuable to the team, but also why one of the movie’s antagonists, Leo Beebe, a Ford executive, wanted him gone. His temper didn’t reflect well on the brand image, according to him.
Shelby needed to convince them otherwise, as he knew that without Miles, they wouldn’t be able to win Le Mans.
Ford V Ferrari isn’t just a movie that car enthusiasts will find enjoyable. The people behind the film do a great job of communicating the intensity that comes with racing. For the majority of the movie, I can guarantee that you will be on the edge of your seat regardless of your knowledge on the subject.
The verdict? This is a film that manages to make you feel all kinds of emotions, whether it be sympathy for a character or fear that a race may not be won. Great acting and mostly accurate storytelling (You can’t expect 100%, it’s a movie) tie the package together to create a product that is so immersive that you can basically smell the exhaust in the air and feel the burnt rubber on the track.
If I were you, this movie would definitely be on my “must see” list.
Ford V Ferrari trailer
Come back next time for more news from the world of cars.
- Daniel Shah
0 comments:
Post a Comment