Ford dealers are prepared to put in more than A$1M ($784,000) a year "to save one of Australia’s greatest sporting rivalries in a move that could see a Mustang take on the Holden Commodore in 2017," according to James Phelps of the HERALD SUN. A network of Ford dealers "are manoeuvring to save the famous company from V8 Supercar extinction and have called on Ford Australia to reconsider their decision to abandon the sport." But a high level management change at Ford Australia -- the CEO and marketing manager who were responsible for the decision to abandon the V8 war both leaving the company last month -- and the dealer lobbying "could now see Ford stay in the sport." A source said, "The dealers are prepared to fund half the amount required to run a factory team." The "one size fits all" chassis set to be introduced in '17 under the next generation of Supercars, along with the introduction of V6 engines, "opens the door for Ford to race American legend the Mustang or several other cars in their line-up including the Taurus, the Mondeo and the Fusion" (
HERALD SUN, 5/4).
