OUR LEGACY – ALAN MANN RACING
Alan Mann Racing was a dominant force in British motorsport. Founded in the early 1960s by the late Alan Mann – a former race driver and gifted engineer – the team rose to international success. Based in Byfleet, Surrey, the team became a leader in touring and sports car racing. Over time, they won major events and championships, representing Ford on the global stage, creating our legacy at Alan Mann Racing.
As Ford’s official European factory team, Alan Mann Racing played a key role in developing and running legendary Fords like the Ford Mustang, Ford Lotus Cortina, Ford Falcon, Ford Escort Twin-Cam, and the Ford F3L. With a reputation for engineering excellence and striking red-and-gold liveries, the team achieved significant global success. Discover Our legacy – The story of Alan Mann Racing.
WATCH THE ALAN MANN RACING DOCUMENTARY
Step into the thrilling world of motorsport and celebrate our legacy over six decades of Alan Mann Racing. This exclusive documentary captures the essence of a team known for speed, innovation, and victory.
Learn how Alan Mann Racing launched legends like Sir Jackie Stewart and helped shape motorsport history with the Ford GT40 and Alan Mann Escort. Along the way, discover the engineering brilliance that defined a golden era.
With rare footage, insider interviews, and heartfelt tributes, this film reveals the spirit and ambition behind the team. It’s more than history- it’s a celebration of legacy.
ALAN MANN RACING TIMELINE
1957
Seen here (above left) in his HWM Alta, monaco, 1957. Alan was an accomplished amateur racing driver in his own right in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Alan gained his apprenticeship in the motor trade in partnership with his friend and fellow racer, Roy Pierpoint. They ran the wayside garage at Rusper, near Gatwick, and would go racing at the weekends.
1962
The link with Ford began in 1962 when Alan joined a South Coast Ford dealership, Andrews of Southwick. He soon revitalised the sales side of things and then began an Andrews racing operation.
1963
The team’s success led to an invitation from Ford in the USA to take part in the Marlboro 12Hrs race in August 1963. The Ford of Britain Cortinas of the Willment and Andrews teams finished first and second outright in the race, beating the Ford factory entered Falcons and gaining the attention of the top brass.
1964
The sensational result at the Marlboro 12Hrs was Alan’s first big break and at the age of 27 he felt driven to go it alone and set up Alan Mann Racing, which opened at the beginning of 1964. Instead of operating as a team seeking sponsorship, Alan Mann Racing was contracted to Ford and operated as a business. The team was formed and took over premises in Byfleet, Surrey.
1964
In Alan Mann Racing’s first major contract for Ford, Falcons were entered in the Monte Carlo Rally, first among which was the Bo Ljungfeldt/Fergus Sager car which set the fastest time on every stage.
1964
In the Tour de France Automobile, Alan Mann prepared six Ford Mustangs to rally specification and won the event with Peter Procter (Above Right) at the wheel, marking the first competitive success of the brand new Mustang.
1965
Alan Mann Racing ran the European rounds of the World GT Championship with Cobras for Carroll Shelby and Ford, with Sir John Whitmore, Jack Sears and Bob Bondurant among the drivers, resulting in the first World Championship win for an American manufacturer.
1966
As part of Ford’s effort to win Le Mans, two lightweight GT40’s were built by Alan Mann Racing and were raced at Sebring by Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Sir John Whitmore and Frank Gardner. The lightweight cars were ultimately shelved in favour of the 7-litre MkII, which the team ran at Spa and Le Mans.
1967
Lotus Cortinas were entered into the 100th Monte Carlo Rally along with campaigning for the European Touring Car Championship, winning four of the rounds and finishing second overall. An Alan Mann Racing Ford Falcon set the first 100+ mph lap of the Silverstone GP circuit at the International Trophy meeting with Sir John Whitmore driving. Frank Gardner drove a Group 5 Ford Falcon to victory in the British Saloon Car Championship.
Alan Mann Racing built the striking Honker Il Can-Am car which was sent over to Holman Moody in America to be driven by the legendary Mario Andretti.
1968
A pivotal year for Alan Mann Racing. The brand new Ford Escort is launched and put to the test by Frank Gardner, who went on to win the British Saloon Car Championship.
1968
A prototype sports car, the F3L-P68, was designed in house by Alan Mann Racing and Len Bailey to make use of the new Cosworth DFV engine. Despite it’s inherent speed, setting pole or fastest lap everywhere it went, the F3L failed to finish a race. Drivers included Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme, Mike Spence, Richard Attwood and Frank Gardner.
1968
A curveball project for the Alan Mann Racing engineers and mechanics came in the form of the iconic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang designed and constructed for the movie of the same name. Inspired by vintage racers Chitty used the engine and gearbox from a Ford Zodiac along with custom made Goodyear tyres for its 34-inch wheels!
1968
Again working with Len Bailey, Alan Mann Racing produced a new Can-Am car named the Open Sports Ford. The Ford Open Sports was the last car Alan Mann Racing built in period and it’s final outing came at College Station, Texas, with the legendary Jack Brabham at the wheel.
2004
Forty years after it was founded Alan Mann resurrected the team for historic racing. Regularly attending events such as Goodwood Revival and Festival of Speed along with participation in the Masters Historic Series the team was back on the grid.
2012
Alan Mann passed away in 2012 but it wasn’t before he had firmly sown the seed for his sons to fully revive Alan Mann Racing. Working together Tom and Henry Mann are keeping the spirit of their father alive and steadily rebuilding AMR. Although the road ahead is somewhat unknown, it is guaranteed to be an exciting journey
2024
To kick off their 60th anniversary year, Alan Mann Racing received the prestigious Spirit of Ford Award – Ford Motor Company’s highest honour in motor racing, recognising lifetime achievement and contribution to the industry both on and off the race track. Alan Mann’s sons Henry and Tom Mann received the award from Edsel B. Ford II, at a special event at the American Muscle Car Museum in Florida.
2024
Alan Mann Racing joins Boreham Motorworks as the in-house high-performance division, in a move to preserve the spirit of Alan Mann Racing’s high-performance excellence while pushing forward Boreham Motorworks’ automotive road and race development, as an official partner of Ford Motor Company.