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Ford set to quit V8 Supercars?

22 October, 2014

 


In a shock announcement to Ford, and V8 Supercars fans alike, reports surfaced over Bathurst weekend that Ford Australia were set to quit V8 Supercars.

The reports concerned speculation that Ford Australia was looking to exit the sport once its contract with Ford Performance Racing (FPR) expired at the end of the year. The announcement follows the demise of the Falcon as we know it — the new Falcon FG X is the final Aussie Falcon to go on sale before Ford Australia shuts its local assembly facilities down by October 2016.

This could mark the beginning of the end of the Ford badge in the V8 Supercars event. Ford Australia’s impending switch to importer status means their entire business model is under review, including investment and participation in motorsport.

“We are working with the teams now and any announcements we have will be after the season is over,” says Ford Australia’s president, Bob Graziano, adding to the speculative nature of the reports.

The report put a bit of a damper on the weekend which was a high point for Ford fans, with Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris taking pole at the Bathurst 1000 event in their Pepsi Max Falcon, racing for the factory-backed FPR team.

Regardless of what camp you sit in, you can’t deny that it would be a dark day in Australian motorsport if Ford were to pull out — here’s hoping that we’ll see the legendary Ford versus Holden rivalry continue for many years to come.

Motorman: When the top trio took to the road

9 May, 2025

What sort of cars did Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren and Denny Hulme drive when they weren’t on the race track? Motorman knows
Most top racing drivers do care about safety levels of road-going cars for everyday motorists and their all-round abilities behind the wheel. Jackie Stewart for one denied finding everyday driving boring. He took pride in giving his passengers the smoothest possible ride, and encouraged all drivers to actively engage in the task. They also make interesting choices for their transport away from competitive motoring.
Thirty years ago I spent a day with Chris Amon driving on lower North Island roads and I can remember those informative few hours as vividly as if they were yesterday. In 1983 Chris accepted a challenge from Toyota New Zealand to improve its locally assembled cars in a relationship that extended well beyond the end of New Zealand-built Toyota vehicles in 1997.

The Ayrburn Classic announces dates for 2026

7 May, 2025

Save the date: Friday 20 – Sunday 22 February 2026
That’s right. The Ayrburn Classic returns next February for what promises to be another world-class celebration, scheduled slightly earlier on the calendar to bask in Central Otago’s long golden evenings and late-summer glow. This festival will once again transform Ayrburn into a playground for car enthusiasts, food lovers, and seekers of high-end hospitality alike.
The 2025 edition set an incredibly high benchmark, and is fast becoming one of the leading reasons to visit Queenstown – amongst New Zealanders and international travellers alike. With over 250 classic and contemporary luxury vehicles on display – collectively worth more than $250 million – the festival was a visual and visceral feast for attendees.
Standouts included an $8 million LaFerrari, the latest Aston Martin Vanquish, and a fleet of dream machines from Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, and more. The event’s unique blend of elegance and accessibility attracted both seasoned collectors and casual admirers aplenty.