---
title: "Ford Performance Boss Dave Pericak Leaving Role"
description: "One of the leaders behind the Ford GT's development is set to leave the branch after December 1."
date: "2017-10-19"
modified: "2017-10-19"
authors:
  - name: "Caleb Jacobs"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/caleb-jacobs"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/15293/ford-performance-boss-dave-pericak-leaving-role"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Racing"
tags:
  - "Dave Pericak"
  - "Ford"
  - "Shelby GT350R"
---

# Ford Performance Boss Dave Pericak Leaving Role

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/ford-gt-hero-image.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com\</em\>*

Dave Pericak, a key figure in the world of Ford Performance, revealed that he will be leaving the division after November. Pericak was a major contributor to the automaker's Performance initiative starting in 2013, lending expertise to the development of the [Ford Raptor](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/12736/watch-tony-stewart-drift-his-ford-f-150-raptor>), [Shelby GT350](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/2915/2017-shelby-gt350-offers-the-sexiest-mustang-colors-yet>), [Focus RS](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/4138/all-the-things-no-one-told-me-about-the-ford-focus-rs>), and the latest [Ford GT supercar](<https://www.thedrive.com/watch-this/15185/watch-chris-harris-drift-the-ford-gt>).

[*Autosport*](<https://www.autosport.com/gt/news/132490/key-ford-gt-revival-architect-to-leave-role>) announced the executive's decision in a recent report where he explained he will stay with Ford and oversee engineering of the brand's unibody models. Taking his place in the motorsport division will be Mark Rushbrook while Hermann Salenbauch will take charge of Performance's road car efforts.

"All the stuff we've been doing for the past three years has been pretty impressive, I think, personally, and I'm proud of it," Pericak told *Autosport*. "Now, it's time for me to go and take this global approach and bring it to the mainstream, where we can start affecting the way that we do production cars and trucks on a larger scale."

![message-editor%2F1508433774362-gettyimages-698190134.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1508433774362-gettyimages-698190134.jpg>)
**Getty Images**

One of Pericak's most notable achievements was winning the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans with the Ford GT. Fifty[ years after](<https://www.thedrive.com/start-finish/11574/ford-gt-racing-documentary-chronicles-le-mans-victory>) the Detroit automaker's first triumph over Ferrari at the fabled French endurance race, he and his team were able to develop and build a car that replicated the same results in its Le Mans debut.

He will continue to head-up Ford's World Endurance Championship program through the year as well as its NASCAR efforts where the company currently has a shot at the title with Team Penske and star driver [Brad Keselowski](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/13624/brad-keselowski-shutting-down-nascar-truck-team-that-loses-1-million-annually>).

"We're laser-focused on the championship," Pericak said. "We have a strategy in place and we're working that strategy.

"I won't even be slightly distracted until the end of this season."

## Author
Caleb Jacobs is The Drive’s senior editor. When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, he’s usually driving his dump truck or wishing it was running so he could drive it. He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-jacobs-319323119>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/calebjwords>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/calebjacobs0611>)