Blue Oval fans may not have had much to celebrate at Mount Panorama of late but they were jubilant before the Bathurst 1000 had even begun after Ford vowed to remain in V8 Supercars from next year.
A dark cloud loomed over Ford’s V8 future after the manufacturer announced in May it would cease operating in Australia by 2016 and retire the Falcon name.
It appeared the great Ford-Holden Australian motorsport rivalry was on borrowed time – until Saturday’s stunning announcement just minutes before the Bathurst 1000 top 10 qualifying.
Blue Oval fans have usually left Mount Panorama disappointed – the last time factory backed Ford Performance Racing (FPR) claimed a Bathurst podium was way back in 2004.
That is despite starting in the front row for six of the last seven Great Races – including three pole positions.
But the Ford faithful were all smiles a day before the 161-lap epic after the manufacturer’s welcome call to continue its 11-year backing of FPR.
“We are pleased to continue our association with FPR,” said Ford Australia President and CEO Bob Graziano.
“We have always had a very strong and positive relationship with the team, its principals and its drivers, and we look forward to building on that.
“Our most important priority right now though is to regain our dominance of the mountain this weekend.”
Ford’s association with V8s has amassed a total of 40 race wins, nearly 120 race podiums and more than 40 pole positions.
“Everyone at the team is of course very pleased to see our close relationship with Ford continue and to keep representing the company as its official factory team in V8 Supercars,” FPR CEO Tim Edwards said.
“We enjoy the support of very passionate fans because of our Ford relationship and our team and commercial partners enjoy being associated with one of the worlds iconic brands.
“Having Ford recommit to the team is obviously what we wanted. It has been a busy year for both parties with lots of changes in both of our businesses.
“The continuation means it is simply back to business as usual for everyone.”
It may have dramatic consequences on the traditional driver merry go round ahead of the next season.
FPR driver Will Davison – Ford’s main championship threat this season ahead of Bathurst 1000 – had been set to be tempted by a lucrative Mercedes deal.
But it remains to be seen whether he stays – providing more food for thought after young gun Chaz Mostert had also been linked with the factory-backed Blue Oval outfit for 2014.