MOTORSPORT: Kelly Racing goes Ford Mustang

Nissan’s exit from Supercars main category is complete. In 2020 the number of Ford Mustangs racing in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship will climb from six to eight with Kelly Racing confirming it is swapping from Nissan Altimas.

The Melbourne-based former Nissan factory team will also drop its main-game effort from four to two cars next year, but will add a new two-car Super2 squad and continue to race the Altima in the development series.

Kelly Racing, which is being provided with technical support by Ford’s global motorsport homeroom, Ford Performance, will also establish its own Ford V8 engine development program at its Braeside (Vic) base.

Team co-owner Rick Kelly and rising Kiwi star Andre Heimgartner are expected to drive the two Mustangs, with Simona de Silvestro and rookie Garry Jacobson departing the squad.

Naming rights sponsors have not been confirmed for the two Kelly Racing Mustangs, but Castrol is expected to continue its association with Rick Kelly.

The Mustang contingent in 2020 will also include the two DJR Team Penske entries for runaway championship leader and Bathurst 1000 winner Scott McLaughlin and his team-mate Fabian Coulthard.

Tickford Racing will continue its four Mustang effort.

With the Altimas departing after a largely fruitless seven-year run, the Supercars championship will return to a traditional Ford v Holden stoush for the first time since 2012.

If the grid stays at 24 cars in 2020 that means Holden Commodore ZB numbers should also rise by two to 16. The entry list for next year’s Supercars championship is due to be finalised this Friday (October 18).

The Kelly-Mustang announcement, which has been expected for some weeks, was accompanied by the traditional positive PR statements associated with such things.

“We are excited for the future now we have confirmed the team will run Ford Mustangs in 2020,” said Kelly Racing team principal and co-owner, Todd Kelly.

“After 11 seasons in Supercars we step into a Ford Mustang that is a proven race winner and will provide us with our best opportunity for success in the future,” Kelly stated.

“In this competitive environment it has necessitated a reconsideration of our structure to create the optimal model for the future. This has resulted in our consolidation and focus on two Supercars for the 2020 season and our intention includes running two Dunlop Super2 entries from next year.

“We are grateful to Kay Hart and her team at Ford for their interest and support to work with Kelly Racing and we look forward to continuing their success both on and off the race track from next year.”

Ford Australia boss, Hart stated: “We’re so glad to have Kelly Racing bringing two additional Mustang Supercars to the grid, giving our fans more great news on the back of a fantastic 2019 season so far. Having more Mustangs racing next season is a reflection of the team’s hard work and the success of the program so far.”

Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports also chimed in: “Kelly Racing has an impressive pedigree in terms of both engineering and their driver talent, and we see its switch to Mustang as an opportunity to combine their highly skilled outfit with Ford Performance DNA.”

For all the positive words, the reality is going Mustang will be a stern test for the Kellys, who have achieved only limited success with Holden Commodores and the Altimas since first launching into the Supercars championship in 2009.

Based on 2019 form, the Mustang is the Supercar to have. But both it and the Holden Commodore ZB will have their aerodynamics re-homologated for next season with the intention of equalising and reducing downforce (grip). The Ford is accepted to have an advantage in this critical area at the moment.

The Kelly Racing Mustangs will make their debut at the Adelaide 500, scheduled for February 20-23, 2020.