Ford executive Brian Wolfe, one of the pioneers of Mustang 5.0 drag racing, has been appointed as the new Director of Ford Racing Technology.
Brian replaces Dan Davis, who retired in August after serving as Ford Racing’s Director for 11 years.
After graduating in 1982 from the University of Michigan-Dearborn with bachelor and master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Brian went to work for Ford as part of the Ford College Graduate program in heavy truck engines. As his career began to evolve, he moved upward with a position in engine engineering. At the same time, his passion for motorsports also grew.
He bought an ‘86 Mustang GT, the first year of the fuel-injected cars, and a friend at Ford Racing (then called Ford Motorsport) passed along some specialty parts asking him to try out the "GT-40 package." The results were mesmerizing. "I remember thinking, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool," said Wolfe, after having run faster on his inaugural run in the Mustang than he ever had in his 428 Cobra Jet Fairlane. "I was hooked and for a while, I had one of the fastest Mustang Pro 5.0 cars around."
Brian’s ’86 GT became a test vehicle for Ford Motorsport as he competed against the top 5.0 racers, like Stormin’ Norman, Gene Deputy, and Don Walsh Sr. It was the first fuel-injected Mustang to run in the 11s, 10s, and 9s.
Most recently, Brian was Director of Powertrain Calibration and Controls, with responsibility for all powertrain computer-control software applications and powertrain calibrations. As Director of Ford Racing, Brian oversees Ford's motorsport efforts, including Sprint Cup and NHRA drag racing.