Summerton to Ganassi Ford GT program?

Could Jonathan Summerton be in line for one of the coveted Ford GT seats in 2016?

AutoRacing1 has learned that American driver Jonathan Summerton is being considered for the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Ford GT program scheduled to debut next season. The 27-year-old Orlando resident was a standout driver in the old Atlantic Championship in 2008 and 2009, and was a GT class winner at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Summerton also won the 2007 Shanghai, China round in A1 GP.

Ford, of course, is making a much-celebrated return to Le Mans in 2016, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the Ford GT cars placing 1-2-3 at the famous enduro in 1966. The Ford GT 40 would also win in 1967, 1968, and 1969.

Next season the Ford GT will run two cars in both the full TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship schedules, with a four-car effort at Le Mans.

While it has been reported that Summerton is looking to test an IndyCar at Sonoma next week, AR1 also knows that Summerton’s management group Daedalus Motorsport Management has held conversations with teams in several categories throughout the summer about securing Summerton a full-time seat for 2016. Daedalus is an intriguing business model as it offers clients sponsor management, brand development and engineering services in addition to managing drivers.

Brian Carroccio reporting for AutoRacing1