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Bathurst 1000 2014: Ford to be killed off V8 Supercars circuit at end of 2015, ending iconic rivalry with Holden
James Phelps
9 October 2014
www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Ford is dead according to high level V8 Supercars officials with Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry to be killed off by the end of next year.
In a Bathurst bombshell delivered on the week the last GT Falcon was built, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ford are set to axe V8 Supercars from their $60 million sponsorship war chest in a move that will end iconic Ford v Holden Mount Panorama racing war.
With the Falcon already dead and waiting to be buried, V8 officials have been told Ford will officially quit the sport at the end of the year and will not renew a multi-million dollar year deal with reigning Bathurst champions Ford Performance Racing (FPR).
Ford will remain on the grid next year with FPR and Penske/**** Johnson Racing to give the Falcon a one year stay of execution with plans already underway to turn the FGX — the last ever Falcon — into a V8 Supercar.
But then the Aussie legend, forged by Ford warrior **** Johnson, will be dead.
This weekend’s Bathurst is shaping as the penultimate 1000km fight between Ford and Holden with Mark Winterbottom looking to continue the Blue Oval’s famous Mount Panorama history by upsetting Holden great Jamie Whincup.
The Daily Telegraph has been told six Ford Falcons have been confirmed to race in next year’s series with both FPR and Penske-DJR to hit the grid with the new FGX that will not be funded by Ford.
Then the 22 year-old war, made famous by Johnson and Peter Brock, will be over.
Ford’s future in the sport has been under a heavy cloud since the American giant announced the Falcon would be axed in 2016 after and Ford’s Australian factory closed.
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Holden backs V8 Supercars to promote Commodore replacement
CarSales
8 October 2014
www.carsales.com.au
Winning races is a cost-effective way to launch next-generation large sedan in Australia — GM
With the biggest V8 Supercars race of the year looming at Bathurst this week, Holden has signalled the category can play an important role in the launch of its Commodore replacement -- if sedans are allowed to race in the category post-2017.
Holden ceases local manufacturing no later than the end of 2017, killing off the locally-developed Commodore which has underpinned its touring car racing efforts since 1980.
At the same time, V8 Supercars is expected to roll out the next generation of V8 Supercar regulations, possibly abandoning sedans for coupes or allowing the two body styles to race alongside each other. The future of the V8 engine is also under review.
As reported from last week’s Paris motor show, the next-generation Opel Insignia is expected to take on the role of Holden’s mainstream sedan, potentially without using the Commodore name. It has been previewed by the Monza concept (pictured) and is due to emerge in 2016.
Holden motorsport boss Simon McNamara told motoring.com.au that V8 Supercars would be a cost effective way to promote Holden’s Commodore successor.
“To me where this sport goes and what we potentially would do fits OK,” McNamara said. “It would potentially give us the chance to sex up a car pretty quickly because we have got – in my mind – the best teams in pitlane.
Holden has just renewed all-conquering Triple Eight Race Engineering (Red Bull Racing Australia) and the Holden Racing Team as its factory operations in Australia’s most important racing category for 2015-16 and McNamara believes they could deliver a winning start for a new car.
“We could potentially have overnight success with a new model and all the rest of that stuff, which gives you some cache in the marketplace without spending $150 million in the media,” McNamara said.
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Ford V8s exit would be 'commercial suicide'
Roje Adaimy & Adrian Warren
13 October 2014
www.ninemsn.com.au
Bathurst 1000 winners Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris reckon it makes no sense and would be commercial suicide for Ford to exit the sport.
The dramatic victory on Sunday was both Mostert and Morris' first at Mount Panorama, but second for the factory-backed Ford Performance Racing outfit following Mark Winterbottom's breakthrough win last year.
Reports emerged last Friday that Ford was planning to leave the sport when its sponsorship deal with FPR expired at the end of this year.
Ford Australia boss Bob Graziano said the company was still in negotiations and would make an announcement after the season finale in Sydney in December.
"You saw the outcry of emotion and the passion for the brand yesterday and if Ford don't get involved it's going to be commercial suicide," co-driver Morris said on Monday.
"I just can't see it's going to happen."
Mostert, who won the great race at just his second attempt, was equally emphatic.
"It's a fantastic brand and our Supercars series has been built on the Ford-Holden Rivalry over the years," Mostert said.
"So for them to go, it just makes no sense and I think it might kill the sport a bit."
"But I just drive race cars and I'll let the commercial teams work all that stuff out."
Mostert believed his triumph should send a pretty strong message that Ford needed to stay.
"Yeah, for sure," he said.
"We want Ford to be here next year, and I'm pretty sure they will be."
Mostert and Morris defied the odds to win the longest and most chaotic edition of the Great Race.
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James Phelps
9 October 2014
www.dailytelegraph.com.au
Ford is dead according to high level V8 Supercars officials with Australia’s greatest sporting rivalry to be killed off by the end of next year.
In a Bathurst bombshell delivered on the week the last GT Falcon was built, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ford are set to axe V8 Supercars from their $60 million sponsorship war chest in a move that will end iconic Ford v Holden Mount Panorama racing war.
With the Falcon already dead and waiting to be buried, V8 officials have been told Ford will officially quit the sport at the end of the year and will not renew a multi-million dollar year deal with reigning Bathurst champions Ford Performance Racing (FPR).
Ford will remain on the grid next year with FPR and Penske/**** Johnson Racing to give the Falcon a one year stay of execution with plans already underway to turn the FGX — the last ever Falcon — into a V8 Supercar.
But then the Aussie legend, forged by Ford warrior **** Johnson, will be dead.
This weekend’s Bathurst is shaping as the penultimate 1000km fight between Ford and Holden with Mark Winterbottom looking to continue the Blue Oval’s famous Mount Panorama history by upsetting Holden great Jamie Whincup.
The Daily Telegraph has been told six Ford Falcons have been confirmed to race in next year’s series with both FPR and Penske-DJR to hit the grid with the new FGX that will not be funded by Ford.
Then the 22 year-old war, made famous by Johnson and Peter Brock, will be over.
Ford’s future in the sport has been under a heavy cloud since the American giant announced the Falcon would be axed in 2016 after and Ford’s Australian factory closed.
Continue here
Holden backs V8 Supercars to promote Commodore replacement
CarSales
8 October 2014
www.carsales.com.au
Winning races is a cost-effective way to launch next-generation large sedan in Australia — GM
With the biggest V8 Supercars race of the year looming at Bathurst this week, Holden has signalled the category can play an important role in the launch of its Commodore replacement -- if sedans are allowed to race in the category post-2017.
Holden ceases local manufacturing no later than the end of 2017, killing off the locally-developed Commodore which has underpinned its touring car racing efforts since 1980.
At the same time, V8 Supercars is expected to roll out the next generation of V8 Supercar regulations, possibly abandoning sedans for coupes or allowing the two body styles to race alongside each other. The future of the V8 engine is also under review.
As reported from last week’s Paris motor show, the next-generation Opel Insignia is expected to take on the role of Holden’s mainstream sedan, potentially without using the Commodore name. It has been previewed by the Monza concept (pictured) and is due to emerge in 2016.
Holden motorsport boss Simon McNamara told motoring.com.au that V8 Supercars would be a cost effective way to promote Holden’s Commodore successor.
“To me where this sport goes and what we potentially would do fits OK,” McNamara said. “It would potentially give us the chance to sex up a car pretty quickly because we have got – in my mind – the best teams in pitlane.
Holden has just renewed all-conquering Triple Eight Race Engineering (Red Bull Racing Australia) and the Holden Racing Team as its factory operations in Australia’s most important racing category for 2015-16 and McNamara believes they could deliver a winning start for a new car.
“We could potentially have overnight success with a new model and all the rest of that stuff, which gives you some cache in the marketplace without spending $150 million in the media,” McNamara said.
Continue here
Ford V8s exit would be 'commercial suicide'
Roje Adaimy & Adrian Warren
13 October 2014
www.ninemsn.com.au
Bathurst 1000 winners Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris reckon it makes no sense and would be commercial suicide for Ford to exit the sport.
The dramatic victory on Sunday was both Mostert and Morris' first at Mount Panorama, but second for the factory-backed Ford Performance Racing outfit following Mark Winterbottom's breakthrough win last year.
Reports emerged last Friday that Ford was planning to leave the sport when its sponsorship deal with FPR expired at the end of this year.
Ford Australia boss Bob Graziano said the company was still in negotiations and would make an announcement after the season finale in Sydney in December.
"You saw the outcry of emotion and the passion for the brand yesterday and if Ford don't get involved it's going to be commercial suicide," co-driver Morris said on Monday.
"I just can't see it's going to happen."
Mostert, who won the great race at just his second attempt, was equally emphatic.
"It's a fantastic brand and our Supercars series has been built on the Ford-Holden Rivalry over the years," Mostert said.
"So for them to go, it just makes no sense and I think it might kill the sport a bit."
"But I just drive race cars and I'll let the commercial teams work all that stuff out."
Mostert believed his triumph should send a pretty strong message that Ford needed to stay.
"Yeah, for sure," he said.
"We want Ford to be here next year, and I'm pretty sure they will be."
Mostert and Morris defied the odds to win the longest and most chaotic edition of the Great Race.
Continue article
