Henry Ford himself once raced ten laps on a dirt track against Alexander Winton, then the most famous racing driver in the world. The technologically advanced “1901 Sweepstakes” car he and his associates designed for the race helped him secure an upset victory over his rival — and financial backing from investors. 18 months later, he started Ford Motor Company.

Henry’s first race was also his last (“Once is enough,” he quipped at the time), but his legacy of ingenuity lives on. The demands of motorsport have made courses and tracks across the world ideal test beds for innovations in everything from handling to safety. And while every Ford model benefits, our performance vehicles prove we’re still searching for the limits of our craft.