Ford Australia remains yet to commit to a V8 Supercars program beyond the end of the 2013 season as it focusses on reshaping its showroom line-up.
The company will make an announcement in Sydney later today regarding its future road car plans, which are expected to include the return of the Mustang to Australian shores.
Dubbed ‘Go Further’, the event will be hosted by Ford’s vice-president of global marketing, Jim Farley, and will mark a significant step in the company’s transition from local manufacturer to importer.
Although the Falcon will be discontinued when production ceases at the Geelong plant in 2016, it is unclear whether a new large car will arrive in its place, potentially leaving the mid-sized Mondeo as the flagship sedan model.
Regardless of the future of the product line-up, a Ford spokesman told Speedcafe.com that the announcements at Go Further will not include a V8 Supercars component.
Ford’s immediate future in domestic motorsport has been under question for some time, scaling back its direct financial support to just a single team – Ford Performance Racing – this year.
Six Falcons, split between FPR and its customer outfit Dick Johnson Racing, currently compete in the championship; the least in almost 20 years.
FPR drivers Will Davison and Mark Winterbottom currently sit third and fourth in the championship respectively having both won races, while DJR’s rookie Chaz Mostert took a maiden victory last time out at Queensland Raceway.
Although in no hurry to clear up its V8 Supercar intentions, the Go Further event will have at least a small motorsport component.
On display will be the company’s 1.0 litre, three cylinder Ecoboost-powered Formula Ford-based open-wheeler.
Touted as being road legal, the car reportedly clocked a 7:22s lap of the Nurburgring – the 11th fastest time recorded at the venue.
