So we have the straight line acceleration, but will it follow the US tradition and be unable to corner? Well, surprisingly, at a rather portly 1,500 kilograms, it turns in nicely - whatever is thrown its way.

The steering is power assisted but still has a firm solid feel with no ‘dead-loose’ feeling in the straight ahead. It gives you the confidence to press into corners smoothly and sure-footedly as your feel for the Ford GT’s road handling ability increases. But don’t think about pointing this supercar down your local tight back alley, as, in true race car fashion, it has a turning circle akin to an oil super tanker.

The brakes feel solid and well-balanced, stopping power is strong with 14” cross-drilled Brembos at the front and 13” on the rears and the safety net of ABS is there should you need it.

After the twisty back roads, flowing from corner to corner, marvelling at its handling and tyre shredding power, it was time to take it to the motorway to see if it was a true GT. A quick squirt, it’s breathtaking, then settling into legal highway speeds, junction after junction easily passed without severe jarring and with very little noise intruding into the cabin.

On the motorway, you can slip into sixth gear, release your foot from the accelerator and let the supercharged wave of torque just push you along as if a covert cruise control had been switched on.

One thing’s for certain with the Ford GT, and everyone seems to agree: it is a real looker. This is a car loved by everyone wherever it went. Giving it back after a few glorious days in the saddle was an enormous wrench.

The Ford GT was developed to celebrate the anniversary of one of the world’s largest automotive giants and a commemorative nod towards its venerable racing past.

With the state the Ford motor company is in, we may never see such a car again. But it shows what can be achieved when the creative taps are opened.

Many thanks to Shane Seczkowski for assisting with the photo shoot and enduring the day’s conditions.

MARK’S BIG STATEMENT

“Ferrari’s 360 and Porsches 991 Turbo were the benchmarks the design team set their sights on surpassing when developing the Ford GT. They succeeded in building a car that may not offer the finesse nor build quality, nor the luxury of the others, yet delivers a raw driver’s experience and sheer theatre that is possibly without rival. If you’ve got the coin, it’s a viable choice if you need to feed your wild side… and boy is it fun.”

Mark Likes:

• GT 40 race car looks
• Smooth astounding torquey V8
• Unmistakable supercharged V8 engine note

Mark Dislikes:

• Notable Ford build quality in places
• Regular petrol pump visits

Gallery

GALLERY » ford-gt-review_2

Specifications

Engine	5.4-litre Mid-engine aluminum-block V8, aluminum 4-valve cylinder heads, H-beam connecting rods and forged-aluminum pistons
Supercharger	Eaton® Model 2300 screw-type
Bore/Stroke (mm):	90.2×105.8
Valvetrain	Dual-overhead camshafts with 4 valves per cylinder
Power	410 kW @ 6500 rpm
Torque	677Nm @ 3750 rpm
Fuel System	SEFI with dual injectors per cylinder
Throttle Body	Twin 70-mm
Compression Ratio	8.4:1
Transmission	Ricardo 6-speed manual Gear Ratios: 1 - 2.61, 2 - 1.71, 3 - 1.23, 4 - 0.94, 5 - 0.77, 6 - 0.63
Differential	Helical limited-slip
Clutch	Twin-disc, 240-mm
Suspension	Unequal-l329.91 km/hength upper and lower aluminum control arms, coil springs,monotube aluminum dampers and tubular stabilizer bar
Top Speed	329.91 km/h
0-100 km/h	3.3 seconds
0-400m	11.6 seconds @ 206km/h

Spec as tested: McIntosh Audiophile upgrade, BBS painted 10-spoke forged-aluminium wheels, Racing-style stripes

Price as tested: $500,000