LEGENDARY DRIVERS

Many of the leading race and rally drivers of the time were employed by Alan Mann Racing, including Sir John Whitmore, Jacky Ick, Bosse Ljungfeldt, Graham Hill, Frank Gardner, Sir Jackie Stewart and Bruce McLaren. As well as high profile drivers, Mann’s staff roster included design icon Len Bailey and fabricator Jim Rose. The team was disbanded in 1969, as Ford’s Competition Department decided to focus more on their rally activity.

Mario Andretti

In American popular culture, the Andretti name is synonymous with speed and Mario Andretti’s career is littered with records. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula 1, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR.

During his career he won the 1978 Formula 1 World Championship, secured four IndyCar titles, and was the only person to be named United States Driver of the Year in three different decades.

Mario Andretti was involved with Alan Mann Racing when he was selected to drive the Ford Honker II in four of the six 1967 Can-Am Challenge Cup Championship rounds. Project 77, aka Honker II, was designed by Len Bailey and constructed by Alan Mann Racing; it was a unique prototype sports car developed under Ford’s Total Performance program. After its completion, the vehicle was shipped to the United States and managed by Holman & Moody for its racing campaign.

However, Andretti’s experience with Honker II was less than favourable. The car suffered from aerodynamic issues, including lift at high speeds, and had a problematic gearbox. Andretti described it as “scary in a straight line” and criticised its overall design and performance. Of the four rounds entered, the car failed to start at Road America and Mosport. At Riverside, it managed 37 laps before blowing the engine. It’s best and only finish was 8th at Bridgehampton.