MOTORSPORT: 'Please explain how Ford is marketed here?'

Having just committed to running two Ford Falcon FG Xs in the V8 Supercar Championship in 2016, Penske Racing’s global president Tim Cindric has expressed his bewilderment at Ford Australia’s determined efforts to abandon the category.

And he has also signalled that lack of interest could result in Penske switching to another brand as soon as 2017.

Despite a massive Australian touring car racing heritage, the Blue Oval ceases all connection with V8 Supercars at the end of this year, when its now minor deal with former factory team Prodrive Racing Australia lapses.

Ironically, PRA is likely to deliver both the drivers and teams’ championship to Ford this year for the first time since its inception as Ford Performance Racing in 2003.

“I am having a real hard time understanding the logic about how the brand (Ford) is being marketed in this country,” the American told motoring.com.au.

“What is the agenda? Why discourage support of the brand in the biggest racing series in the country and one of the biggest sports in the country?”

Cindric is a key player in DJR Team Penske, the team purchased by US racing icon Roger Penske in the off-season, with local legend Dick Johnson and some other partners retaining a minority interest.

Yesterday, DJRTP confirmed it would expand from one Falcon to two for 2016, with category star Fabian Coulthard joining emerging talent Scott Pye on the driving roster at the Queensland-based team.

When Penske took over the operation from Johnson, the team had already lost its Ford backing. Despite Penske being a major partner with Ford in US motor racing, local execs showed no interest in backing the team when Cindric met with them last year.

But Penske still joined with PRA in paying for the homologation of the FG X for V8 Supercars racing in 2015, with Ford proving technical support.

“There was no subsidy and I am not aware that has ever happened and I know we won’t participate in that process again in 2017,” said Cindric.

With Falcon production ending in October 2016 and the Gen2 V8 Supercar rules being introduced for 2017, the Ford teams have been lobbying to race the new Mustang, potentially with a blown V6 engine.

But that’s drawn no support from Ford Australia, while negotiations with Ford Performance in the USA to get involved have come to nothing.

“The USA doesn’t control Supercars, Australia does, so I don’t think the US is going to do anything independent of this organisation,” Cindric said.

While no decisions have been made as yet beyond next year, Cindric is clearly signalling that unless Ford Australia shifts its position, DJRTP will be shifting to a new brand as soon as 2017.

Cindric was clearly frustrated by Ford Australia’s policy. No Blue Oval executives attended Bathurst last weekend and there has also been active discouragement of dealers becoming involved with the Ford teams, despite both of them having strong links in that area.

“If the dealers want to be involved, why not? Why is that discouraged?” asked Cindric.

“I think I could understand it a bit more if Ford was running at the back of the grid, but you can’t ask for a better on-track performance than what Prodrive has shown this year and there is enthusiasm for it. Why not benefit from it?”

Cindric said the tribal blue (Ford) versus red (Holden) battle in V8 Supercars was an integral part of the show, which would be put at risk if that was allowed to ebb away.

“It won’t only hurt the diehard Ford fans, but the Holden fans with no-one to root against, it’s hard to keep the passion.

“I have been totally amazed by the brand loyalty that exists,” he added.

“For the relatively small investment that exists in that I just don’t understand why you throw all that away, just because you are not manufacturing cars in particular country. That situation exists for other brands such as Holden.”

Cindric also made the point that in a global media world, Ford’s recalcitrant attitude toward V8s would backfire beyond Australian borders.

“It’s not the fact that DJRTP is really losing anything out of it, but I think the sport is. But more importantly I think the brand is and … the world is much smaller than it once was. The reputation of your brand isn’t in just that particular country. The logo is the same all around the world.”