Allan Moffat, still arguably the greatest driver in Ford's motor racing history in Australia, has been reunited with the Blue Oval today, becoming an ambassador for Ford Performance Vehicles. FPV says Moffat will represent it at "major events and in some exciting new programs throughout 2010".
Moffat's return to the Ford fold coincides with his son James now having a Ford connection -- racing a Falcon in the V8 Supercar Development Series. It also points to the possibility of special limited edition FPV and Ford vehicles to mark the impending 50th anniversary of Falcon.
"Ford is such a big part of my history, it is fantastic to be joining FPV in 2010," Moffat says.
"FPV's products are fabulous ... our racing cars didn't perform or handle as well as these cars do ... so I am proud to represent FPV in Australia, and look forward to working with [FPV general manager] Rod Barrett and his team."
Canadian-born Moffat's history with Ford started in the 1960s as a factory team driver and culminated with the famous Falcon quinella with Colin Bond at Bathurst in 1977. He was the greatest rival of Holden's legendary Peter Brock.
Apart from four Bathurst victories, Moffat won the Sandown endurance race six times, was Australian Touring Car Champion four times, won the Australian sports sedan and sports car championships and had numerous overseas successes -- even racing with the late Brock towards the end of his career.
"Allan brings with him an unrivalled Ford heritage and enormous credibility with the history of performance Fords in Australia, and that has an obvious connect with our brand and our customers," Barrett says.
"But more than that, Allan has a real feel for 'performance cars' and what performance enthusiasts value, and that adds further to his role as FPV's roving ambassador."
Moffat's links with Ford's legendary limited edition GT HO Falcons adds weight to speculation the FPV is getting closer to resurrecting the iconic nameplate.
Meantime, Moffat Junior is thought to be in the running for an endurance co-driver role this year with FPV's competition offshoot, Ford Performance Racing.
Since his retirement from racing more than 20 years ago, Allan Moffat has had no formal links to Ford and indeed for a long time represented BMW.
-- with staff
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