The Ford teams in V8 Supercars racing are "hoping a lifeline" from the U.S. will "keep them tied to the blue oval brand after the end of the Falcon," according to Paul Gover of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. It "could even mean the return of the Mustang to frontline Australian motorsport." Ford Australia is "cutting all ties to motorsport as it prepares to close its factory" in Broadmeadows in '16, "even taking back the Falcon road cars it traditionally loans to the Prodrive and DJR-Penske teams." It ended an estimated A$2M-a-year support of Prodrive at the end of last year, which "meant the Ford Performance Racing name disappeared from the V8 Supercars grid." But Ford fans could "still have something to cheer" beyond the end of '16, as Ford Performance in the U.S. is "taking a growing interest in Australian touring car racing and the six Falcons that will hit the track -- four from Prodrive and two from DJR-Penske -- next year." There are "already moves to ensure that Ford’s intellectual property rights, which means everything from the blue oval badge to the bodywork of the all-new Mustang, are available to V8 Supercars teams." Roger Penske has "close ties" to Ford through his NASCAR racing program and Prodrive is "also tapping the connection in the hope that it will allow a Mustang program when the Gen2 regulations in V8 Supercars come into effect" at the start of '16. One of Prodrive's owners, Rod Nash, said, "We are totally committed to Ford and would like to continue with the brand. There is definitely interest from the U.S.A. We're hoping to get some things happening." The "man at the heart of the plan" is U.S. Ford Performance Dir Dave Pericak, who "controls the blue oval budget in all its big programs including NASCAR and Le Mans sport car competition" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/22).
