In 1966 Ford made good on the early promise of the GT40, winning both LeMans and the Constructor’s Championship for Sports-Prototypes. Enzo Ferrari responded by assigning Mauro Forghieri the task of designing what was to become the P4 for the 1967 season. Franco Rocchi designed one of the great engines – a 4-liter, 36 valve, V-12, and Piero Drogo provided the wonderful bodywork. The Gurney-Foyt-Ford MkIV combination overwhelmed Ferrari at LeMans, while Chaparral provided a big threat with a single car throughout the season, and the new Lola T70’s had enough pace to deal with anyone.
Nonetheless, a second place to Chaparral at the season-ending Brands Hatch event was sufficient to gain Ferrari the Championship by a single point. For 1968, the FIA announced a new engine capacity of 3-liters for racing engines and 5-liters for stock-blocks, rendering the MkIV Ford, the Chaparral, and the P4 obsolete. An era had ended.
For more information regarding commission work or obtaining prints of Wally’s beautiful artwork, contact him directly at: Walter Thomason Studios, 5715 Presely Way, Oakland, CA 94618 (510) 654-6145 Phone/FAX, walter_thomason@compuserve.com
