(released in some regions as Ford v Ferrari ) is a 2019 biographical sports drama directed by James Mangold . With a runtime of 152 minutes , the film captures the high-stakes rivalry between Ford Motor Company and Ferrari, culminating in the historic 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Narrative and Performance
The story centers on American car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and fearless British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale). They are tasked by Henry Ford II to build a revolutionary race car, the Ford GT40, to end Enzo Ferrari’s long-standing dominance in endurance racing. Bale’s performance as Miles is widely considered the film's "secret weapon," portraying the driver's volatile yet brilliant mechanical intuition. Themes of Innovation and Corporate Friction Ford v Ferrari: the real story of Le Mans '66 & Ken Miles