In the 1960s, Carroll Shelby, a retired, celebrated race car driver, now turned automotive designer, teams up with Ken Miles, a British race car driver and mechanic known for his brash, yet undeniably effective style behind the wheel. Ford Motor Company, seeking to revitalize their brand and attract the younger demographic, approaches Shelby with an ambitious plan: to defeat the dominant Ferrari at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France. Initially skeptical, Shelby accepts the challenge, recognizing it as an opportunity to push American engineering to its limits and participate in the biggest stage of motorsport competition.

Shelby and Miles set out to design and perfect the Ford GT40, a race car with the potential to end Ferrari's dominance. Their partnership is marked by conflict with Ford's corporate interference and the rigorous demands of designing a vehicle capable of such a formidable task. Throughout the process, the two men forge a deep bond rooted in their mutual respect for engineering, speed, and a shared ambition to achieve what seems impossible. Racing against time, corporate pressures, and their personal demons, Shelby and Miles work to craft a machine and a racing team that can make history and transform the future of Ford.