MOTORSPORT: Ford fires Bathurst parity shot
Lack of aerodynamic mods ahead of this weekend’s Great Race has the Blue Oval fired upOff-track politics is set to boil over at the Repco Bathurst 1000 this weekend, with Ford denouncing a lack of aerodynamic changes prior to Australian motorsport’s crown jewel event.
, Ford has won only two of the 23 races contested since the introduction of the Gen3 ruleset at the start of this season and a series of in-season technical tweaks have failed to balance the results sheet pecking order between the Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.In a statement today, Ford alleges that recent aerodynamic computational fluid dynamics found that parity between the two cars had not been achieved, which is likely to play a role in performance at the high-speed Mount Panorama circuit.
“We are deeply disappointed by the ongoing lack of technical parity in the Supercars Championship, which has left Ford and its teams at a significant disadvantage throughout the 2023 season,” read the statement.
“This lack of technical parity has had a tangible impact on the performance of our teams and drivers.
“Despite their skill, experience, and hard work, they have struggled to compete with other cars that have a clear advantage.
“This has not only been frustrating for our racing partners but also for our loyal fans and supporters who expect to see Ford on the podium and in contention for championships.
“Ford has long been requesting data transparency to assist in understanding the disparity that exists between the two cars.
“Unfortunately, this has been rejected on multiple occasions.
“Our top priority is to help our teams to deliver the best possible racing experience for our fans and supporters.
“We appreciate their loyalty and urge Supercars to create the level playing field they deserve.”
The statement follows a season of inter-marque politics, with Ford Performance Motorsport chief Mark Rushbrook vocal regarding the ongoing parity situation, which has caused ripples in Blue Oval ranks at a global level, leading Ford to review its future in Australian Supercars racing.
Despite the lack of results, pitlane talk has Ford committed to Supercars and its teams – namely Shell V-Power Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Tickford Racing, Penrite Racing and the Blanchard Racing Team – in the short-term.
The company is one of the sport’s most significant backers and supports Supercars with the supply of safety, course and ride cars, as well as Ranger recovery vehicles.
Ford is battling against the odds in the modern era of the Great Race, with three wins in the past 10 years.
The most recent success for the Blue Oval brand was a controversial victory for Scott McLaughlin and Alex Premat in 2019, which broke a drought extending back to 2014.
Practice at Mount Panorama gets underway today ahead of Sunday’s 161-lap endurance race, which will be broadcast on Seven, 7+, Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Related: MOTORSPORT: Feeney and Whincup win Sandown 500
Related: MOTORSPORT: Reliability key to Supercars enduros
Related: MOTORSPORT: Ford reviewing its future in Australian Supercars
Related: MOTORSPORT: Parity debate rages in Supercars
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