Ford quits V8 Supercars

Ford will no longer offer factory support to V8 Supercars teams from 2016.

As reported by sister mag Auto Action a statement from Ford Performance Racing confirmed the Blue Oval’s departure from local racing.

FPR CEO and team principal, Tim Edwards, said of the decision: “Ford Australia’s decision to not extend its commercial relationship with our team beyond the end of next season is extremely disappointing for our large and loyal fan base, but as a business this decision now allows us to concentrate on our long-term future.”

Ford Australia’s withdrawal is unsurprising given local production of the Falcon will cease by October 2016 at the latest and General Marketing Manager David Katic’s recent comments that while V8 Supercars is part of Ford’s heritage, he believes it has little to no effect on road car sales.

Edwards stated that FPR intends to run its Car of the Future Falcons in FG X guise next season and possibly in 2016 before V8 Supercars undergoes major regulation changes in 2017.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton has previously promised that he would reveal the next generation technical rules by this weekend’s Homebush season finale at the latest.

In a strange coincidence, the last time Ford pulled out of local touring car racing was following Allan Moffat’s famous Bathurst victory in 1977, just as Ford’s latest decision comes on the back of Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris’ sensational victory at this year’s Bathurst 1000.