Ford Australia has confirmed that it will end local production on the eve of next year’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
The October 7, 2016, closure date has been publicly confirmed by the car company, which currently operates plants in Broadmeadows and Geelong.
Ford’s closure will precede similar moves from Holden and Toyota in 2017.
Although coincidental, the timing of Ford’s exit will add extra poignancy to the result of next year’s Mount Panorama classic.
Prodrive Racing Australia and DJR Team Penske will continue to run their FG X Falcons next season, despite not receiving financial support from the manufacturer.
The final Falcon has enjoyed strong success in this year’s championship, which is currently being led by Prodrive’s Mark Winterbottom.
If it can win Bathurst either this year or next the FG X will become the 12th different iteration of Falcon to win The Great Race.
Falcons have tasted Great Race success on 15 occasions, with two wins each for the XA, BF and FG, which Prodrive took to victory in 2013 and 2014.
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