50 years to the day following the '66 Le Mans 1-2-3, the No. 68 #FordGT has won the GTE Pro Class at #LeMans24 pic.twitter.com/jkMLuWlEYm

— Ford Performance (@FordPerformance) June 19, 2016

On June 19th, 2016, the No. 68 Ford GT crossed the finish line at 24 Hours of Le Mans in first place for the GTE Pro Class, with the No. 82 Ferrari hot on its tail. This recent victory at the famed international race has everyone talking for a few reasons.

This year's race took place on the 50th anniversary of the 1966 Le Mans race, which was the first year an American automaker had won, and the first time in six years that Ferrari had lost. That year, the Ford GT40 Mark II swept first, second, and third place for a perfect finish.

"This is an historic moment for the Ford Motor Company," said Bill Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. "We dared to dream that we could return to Le Mans, 50 years after the incredible 1966 win, and take on the toughest competition in the world. The pride we all felt when the Ford GT crossed the line at Le Mans is indescribable."

The original Ford GT40 was created as Henry Ford II's response to a feud with Enzo Ferrari, and the close battle between the No. 82 Ferrari, which took second place, and the winning No. 68 Ford GT has reignited decades-old tensions between the two brands.

At Bill Summers Ford LLC, we're excited to see what this renewed rivalry could mean. Nothing sparks innovation like competition -- just look at the moon landing. Ford has already been enjoying a Renaissance of innovation, with record numbers of patents filed in 2015. Check out our new inventory or come into our North Platte showroom and see.