Fifty years ago, Ford secured its first-ever win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when the legendary GT40 Mk. II trounced the reigning teams from Ferrari, who had won the previous six Le Mans. In that 1966 race, Ferrari debuted the 330 P3 with its howling, fuel-injected V12 and lines that mimicked the aero-smooth GT40 with a classic touch of Italian exuberance. The 330 P3’s all failed to finish, but it nevertheless was the pinnacle of the 1960’s rivalry between Detroit (via Coventry, England, of course) and Maranello. Now, after five decades, both Ford and Ferrari will battle at Le Mans again with new cars this summer.

This is the narrative that you’ve already heard and will hear again and again through June and we’re not sorry; it’s a great rivalry. The precursor to Le Mans begins this weekend with the World Endurance Championship’s 6 Hours of Silverstone at the classic English circuit at Silverstone. The Ford GT has experienced some teething troubles in the two American races it has run this year, but this marks the first time the Chip Ganassi Racing Team UK will lean on the new GT in race trim.

The cars certainly look spectacular with their incredibly complex aero configuration and the twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 is battle-tested from years of testing in CGR-run prototype race cars. However, this provides the first real test against Ferrari on a European circuit rather than the high banks at Daytona or the bump-and-break runway concrete at Sebring.

Ganassi UK’s opponents, AF Corse, are a pseudo-factory team who will brandish the Ferarri 488 GTE in its first competition outside of the U.S., as well. This marks the first turbo Ferrari GT car with a 3.9-liter twin-turbo V8 providing the car’s power. It doesn’t sing the way the old Ferrari 458 did, but the AF Corse cars looked strong in preseason testing. Their driver lineups are certainly not lacking in any way: Gianmaria Bruni in the lead #51 car has been an absolute beast in any Ferrari he’s sat in and he gets backing from British ace James Calado.

Both teams have entered a pair of the new cars in the GTE-PRO class, which will also contain a Porsche 911 RSR and a pair of revised, factory-run Aston Martin V8 Vantages that will be competitive.

[Lead photo and videos: FIA World Endurance Championship]