Ford Performance Racing has taken the wraps off its first Car of the Future Falcon at Winton Motor Raceway this morning.
The car is the first team to build and run a final specification V8 Supercar COTF, following on from Triple Eight’s maiden test last month that consisted of a number of components that were not finalised.
Unveiled by Mark Winterbottom, Will Davison and team principal Tim Edwards, the Falcon features Ford’s unique EcoBoost motorsport livery, while the drivers also have special EcoBoost race suits.
Championship contender Winterbottom will drive the car during today’s five lap shakedown, while another 15 lap shakedown will be held tomorrow.
The car’s first proper test will be conducted on September 10.
Edwards says that today is only beginning of an exhaustive few months of testing ahead of next year’s new regulations.
“Today’s reveal and shakedown is the result of many months of design and manufacturing by our team and they should all be praised for their efforts,” Edwards said.
“While there is still a lot of work to be done to understand the new car ahead of next season our ability to have the car on track running what we hope will be the final specification of many parts will give us the best chance of starting 2013 at the head of the field.
“Our plan for the shakedown is to check the car’s systems so we have some data and feedback from the drivers ahead of our first proper test.”
Also testing at Winton Raceway today is FPR’s regular three cars, Garry Rogers Motorsport, Brad Jones Racing, tony D’Alberto Racing, Kelly Racing and a number of Dunlop Series V8 teams.
The teams are testing all of their regular drivers and co-drivers ahead of the Dick Smith Sandown 500 in two weeks time.
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