MOTORSPORT: Ford Mustang GT Supercar revealed

In the same weekend Dick Johnson Racing celebrates its 1000th Supercars championship race start, Dick Johnson himself becomes the focal point of Ford’s global motorsport program, with the two-times Bathurst 1000 winner set to be the first driver in the world to sample the new Ford Mustang GT Supercar on a racetrack.

The Mustang Gen3 Supercar was unveiled today in pit lane at Bathurst, where all of Ford’s contracted drivers were in attendance.

The platform was teased in renders issued at the recent Detroit motor show, with the fresh S560 Ford Mustang to be the cornerstone of Ford’s worldwide motorsport push.

As well as Supercars, the nameplate is set to be utilised in multiple disciplines, including GT3 and GT4 sportscars, NASCAR, drag racing, plus other grassroots categories.

Ultimately, the Blue Oval hopes to race the Mustang in many of the world’s premium events, including at Bathurst, Le Mans and Daytona.

Dick Johnson Racing is Ford’s designated Supercars homologation outfit, designing, developing and building the car in partnership with Ford Performance across the past two years.

For five-times touring car champion Johnson, the reveal culminates an extended development project, with the Mustang set to hit the track this afternoon.

Although he retired from full-time competition at the end of 1999, the three-times Bathurst champion last drove a Supercar in May when he was joined at Queensland Raceway by son Steven and grandson Jett.

“My team and I have been racing Fords for more than 40 years, we are very proud representatives of and ambassadors for the Blue Oval,” said Johnson.

“We have been working extremely hard on making this car the best it can possibly be over the last couple of years, and to be the first person in the world to drive it after all of that work is fantastic.

“Any chance to drive around Mount Panorama is incredible, but to do it in Ford’s latest race car is an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.

“I can’t wait to drive the Mustang and see the fans across the top of the Mountain. It’s going to be very special indeed.”

The Mustang will continue to make on-track appearances this weekend, before continuing the testing and validation program for the new platform.

The Gen3 Supercars ruleset is set to debut on the streets of Newcastle in March 2023.

For Ford Performance, the global reveal comes at a key event on their schedule.

“It is fantastic to be able to show, for the very first time globally, the seventh-generation Mustang in racing form,” said Ford Performance Motorsports global director Mark Rushbrook.

“The reveal of the Mustang Supercar is the first of many, with Mustang to race in GT3, GT4, NASCAR and NHRA competition globally.

“Mustang has been an iconic brand on and off the track for 58 years and its legend will continue around the world. We always say Mustang was born to race, and that is more true today than ever.

“The Mustang GT Supercar is ready to race in 2023.”

It was a strong start to the weekend for the Dick Johnson Racing squad, with team driver Will Davison topping opening practice, which took place on a drying circuit after early morning rain.

There were multiple issues for other fancied runners, with Shane van Gisbergen swiping the wall in his Red Bull Ampol Racing Commodore, Anton De Pasquale spinning at Forrest’s Elbow in the second Shell Mustang, while Cam Waters brought out a red flag after bunkering the Monster Mustang.

Co-driver-only practice concludes Thursday running, before qualifying tomorrow, the top 10 shootout on Saturday and the 1000km main event on Sunday from 11:15am

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