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Supercars has confirmed that the Ford Mustang will undergo aerodynamic changes to ensure parity across the homologated models on the grid.
The championship’s technical team has been conducting studies into the aerodynamic attributes of the Ford, Holden and Nissan models in conjunction with its external partner D2H Engineering in the US.
Ford’s new Supercar weapon has been at the centre of a parity debate having won nine of the 10 races to date.
Data gathered from the aero dependent Phillip Island circuit has contributed to the investigation which has now deemed that the Ford Mustang has an aero advantage that has previously been claimed by rival teams.
Following the results of the study Supercars has confirmed that the Mustang will undergo changes to its aero package believed to be around the rear wing and undertray.
The front splitter and larger rear wing endplates on the Mustang have proved a topic of discussions among the paddock.
The tweaks arrive despite Supercars approving the Mustang’s aero package during the series’ homologation testing conducted late last year.
“The Supercars Technical department has worked through the data available and requested these changes from homologating team DJR Team Penske and Ford Performance in a transparent manner,” said Supercars CEO Sean Seamer.
“The Mustang is a world class race car and we respect the work that has gone in to developing the package. Despite passing VCAT any incoming car needs to meet the incumbents.
“DJRTP and Ford Performance understand that technical parity underpins the success of the sport and accept the changes.”
Ford responded with a statement of its own following confirmation of the aero changes.
It is the second time the Mustang has been hobbled this year after Supercars deemed the car and its Holden Commodore rival had a centre of gravity advantage.
To combat this issue, ballast was repositioned to the rooves of the cars with 28kg moved on the Ford compared to 6.7kg for the Holden before the trip to Tasmania earlier this month.
Supercars has released the below statement confirming the changes to the Mustang which will be completed on the DJR Team Penske and Tickford Racing entries before next week’s Pirtek Perth SuperNight.
FULL SUPERCARS STATEMENT
The Supercars Technical Department has analysed and evaluated information gathered from the opening four rounds of the Championship in monitoring and maintaining technical parity.
Based on the Racing Entitlements Contract (REC) and rule A1.4 of the Supercars Operations Manual, the Ford Mustang will be altered prior to the next event in Perth.
The modifications to be made are the reduction in the dimensions of the end plate, lowering the height of the rear wing gurney flap and a reduction in length of the front undertray extension.
The modifications will be made to all Ford Mustang Supercars prior to the upcoming event in Perth next week.
Sean Seamer, Supercars CEO:
“The Supercars Technical department has worked through the data available and requested these changes from homologating team DJR Team Penske and Ford Performance in a transparent manner.
“The Mustang is a world class race car and we respect the work that has gone in to developing the package. Despite passing VCAT any incoming car needs to meet the incumbents.
“DJRTP and Ford Performance understand that technical parity underpins the success of the sport and accept the changes.”
Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Motorsport, Ford Performance:
“This is a world class car developed by Ford, Ford Performance, DJR Team Penske and Tickford.
“We are incredibly proud of it and we stand by the state-of-the-art package we introduced into the series. Ford Performance exists to win races and Championships and we are here to do just that.
“From here on we will do our talking on the racetrack.”
