From Workhorse to Racehorse: Ford Transit Creates Motorsports Legacy

The Ford Transit van has starred in countless stunts and other one-off uses that accentuate its capability and versatility, but one specialty use case outside its natural wheelhouse has always been motorsports.  

The need for speed dates back to the van’s development, when they were tested at high speeds on public roads in the U.K. during the nighttime in the early 1960s. A few years after Transit hit production, the first Transit Supervan debuted at Brands Hatch in 1971. The notable difference between this and Transit vans available at dealers, though, was that Supervan was based on a Ford GT40 race car and had a 5.0-liter V8 capable of producing 435 horsepower and hitting nearly 150 mph. It was featured at Ford Sport Speed Day a short time after its introduction, nearly defeating an Escort RS1600 in a five-lap showdown. 

A year later, two diesel-powered Transit vans set three world records in seven days – and nights – of nonstop driving at the famed Monza racecourse in Italy. The feat, which included a stretch of 10,000 miles at an average speed of 73.684 mph, helped prove the durability of the vans’ new engines. 

A Super sequel 

Ford again leaned in on its history at Le Mans for the second generation of Supervan, which was introduced in 1985. The second iteration was based on the Ford C100 and powered by a DFY Cosworth V8 engine used in Formula One. Outfitted with a new deep front splitter and large rear wing for improved high-speed aerodynamic stability, it reached 174 mph at Silverstone in the U.K., topping its predecessor by more than 25 mph. 

After extensive updates to Supervan II, which included a new-look body shell and a 650-horsepower, 3.5-liter, Cosworth-developed Ford HB Grand Prix engine, Supervan III was born in 1994. 

Fit for rally racing  

In 2000, Ford created the World Rally Transit, which was powered by an updated version of Ford’s 2.4-liter Duratorq engine and could reach a max speed of about 130 mph. The special Transit featured a carbon-fiber front air splitter and rear airfoil, as well as a special exhaust system, upgraded brakes, and a lowered MacPherson strut suspension. 

Driven by late German racing driver Sabine Schmitz in 2005, Transit also completed the infamous Nürburgring circuit in Germany in just over in 10 minutes on BBC’s “Top Gear.” The 2000s also saw the addition of the Transit SportVan and Transit Connect SportVan to the van’s production lineup. 

The next generation  

More recently, Ford Performance sent the latest version of Supervan, an all-electric demonstrator vehicle, to a record-setting run at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb in 2023. Three electric motors produced the vehicle’s 1,400 horsepower, and SuperVan 4.2 was capable of a 150-mph top speed, while creating two tons of downforce. Months after tearing up Pikes Peak, SuperVan 4.2 became the fastest closed-wheel vehicle to ever lap Australia’s Mount Panorama.

Each iteration of the Supervan appeared at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed in the U.K. in celebration of Transit’s 60th anniversary. While the humble Transit van is surely one of the least likely candidates for motorsports fame, its celebration at such a prominent event for automotive enthusiasts reflects its place outside of commercial vehicles and shows that capability and versatility can come in any size package.   

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