Ford Australia said that it will "pull out of V8 Supercars at the end of the 2015 season," according to the AAP. Ford confirmed on Monday that it would "support teams racing Falcons next year, but would not renew funding from 2016." The news ends months of speculation after Ford, factory-backed flagship team Ford Performance Racing (FPR) and V8 Supercars held talks on ways to "keep the manufacturer involved in the category." FPR CEO Tim Edwards said that "they would explore their options." Edwards: "Ford Australia's decision to not extend its commercial relationship with our team beyond the end of next season is extremely disappointing for our large and loyal fan base, but as a business this decision allows us to concentrate on our long-term future. ... Now that we know where we stand we can develop other opportunities" (AAP, 12/2). FOX SPORTS reported amid "all the reaction from Ford fans there was an overwhelming silence coming from the group" at the center of the story. There was "no word from Ford itself." A "handful of current and former drivers took to Twitter to express their
feelings, with former Ford factory driver Will Davison among the first."
Some fans "preferred to hail the legacy Ford will leave behind." But "so many, many more were left fuming over Ford's decision to funnel its marketing budget elsewhere" (
FOX SPORTS, 12/1). FOX SPORTS reported in a separate piece V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton has "admitted that they are disappointed that Ford has elected to cut financial ties with the sport, but the door would always be open should they ever want to return." Warburton added, "We understand things are tough at Ford at the moment, but we're hopeful they would continue to see the enormous brand value our sport has to them, not to mention decades of Blue Oval racing heritage -- particularly at a time when we are growing so strongly" (
FOX SPORTS, 12/1).
