***Ford to be killed off V8 Supercars circuit at end of 2015***

[uniacidz]

Bathurst 1000 2014: Ford to be killed off V8 Supercars circuit at end of 2015, ending iconic rivalry with Holden

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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/Dick 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 Dick 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.



Ford signed a one year deal with FPR a day before Winterbottom held off Whincup to land the Blue Oval a famous drought breaking Bathurst win.

Amid a global restructuring and plummeting car sales in Australia, Ford has remained uncommitted to motorsport, instead spending their marketing budget on television shows including the Voice and the Bachelorette.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton says his pleas to Ford had fallen on deaf ears.

“We have two teams who will race Ford in 2015 even if they will not be factory backed,’’ he said



“We have consistently made our case to Ford, not only for 2015, but well into the future. They know exactly where we are going and the huge benefits we can deliver.
“We would obviously love to have them continue in the sport.’’

FPR last night said they were still negotiating with Ford and had not given up on securing a new one year deal.

The team remain hopeful of receiving some level of factory support.

“We are still in the fight,’’ said a FPR insider.

Holden’s future on the grid is assured with the Australian manufacturer signing new deals with both the Holden Racing Team (HRT) and Red Bull Racing Australia.



Despite suggestions early this year that Holden would also quit the sport after deciding to close down its Australian operations, the Red Lion will with HRT joining Red Bull Racing Australia as full factory-backed Holden teams with champions Garth Tander, James Courtney, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup their four all-star drivers.

But the future of the Commodore still remains clouded beyond 2016 with the car facing the axe when Australian manufacturing stops.

[uniacidz]

Was bound to happen.

and Fox bought the rights. Dohhhhh

[99AUXR]

Meh dont really care the sport has been dead for me for years.

[Grippy]

If that is the case, I won't be watching post 2015. I watch every race in the hope of Ford race wins and success. Great timing days before the biggest race of the year...

[Fab]

"FPR last night said they were still negotiating with Ford and had not given up on securing a new one year deal."

BTW, James Phelps wrote that article.

[Blue_XR]

I suppose Ford need to come out and make this official now. I'm guessing if the FPR and DJR/Penske squads aren't factory backed then there will be no blueoval on their merchandise.

I wonder if FPR will still be called that without official factory backing.

I have a feeling there will be a lot of fans that walk away from the sport now. Next year will be the last time that Ambrose drives in a Ford.

[Raysie]

Can't say I'm surprised. We have slowly been let down by Ford Australia year in and our for quite a while now... They obviously don't care about the fans or the teams that have stuck through the good and bad times to continue racing with the blue oval.

I'm sorry but with Penske coming on board next year and signing Ford's best ever driver in the last 10 years along with FPR waving the Ford flag souly with plenty of success... I expected better from Ford considering everything seems to have been put on a plate for them.

[Grippy]

Hopefully some privateers run the new Mustang in Production Racing so I have some Fords to support locally.

[timeout]

Well the exit strategy looks almost complete. For me I started piecing a timeline together.. they have been telling everyone they are pulling out with the closure of the discovery center then the layoffs , model changes, v8 sc sponsorship lessening every year.

It's their right as a company to pick and choose what they do.

However when you are in sales doesn't bode well to empty out of loosing such a fan base and customers potential or implied.

Dare I say it in response to the article- sponsoring ***** like the batchorlette say it all really.

[b0son]

Given how Falcon sales have been steadily falling, even with a Bathurst win under their belts, its pretty clear 'win on sunday, sell on monday' is a thing of the past. Why would Ford commit to a series that has little/no sales benefit?

[redozzy64]

Gutted! Numb! Spend millions on Nascar, but stick the middle finger up at Oz

[XBGTFGGTP]

Originally Posted by redozzy64

Gutted! Numb! Spend millions on Nascar, but stick the middle finger up at Oz

Ford have stopped lots of motorsport sponsorship even in the states. John Force is gone, some Nascar teams are getting less. It's a change in where the advertising dollar gets the best result and Ford think they can do better by investing in other areas. Times are changing, car demands are changing and Ford are moving with those changes.

[burnz]

Originally Posted by b0son

Given how Falcon sales have been steadily falling, even with a Bathurst win under their belts, its pretty clear 'win on sunday, sell on monday' is a thing of the past. Why would Ford commit to a series that has little/no sales benefit?

they still have to sell cars here, even if they are from other country's.

if people snub the brand then it will be like rover, Chrysler/mitsu...

[Orangejuicepony]

I can see why, spending $60million a year to support a car that won't be available in 18 months and wouldn't net them even close to that much profit (Ford make a few grand per car) is ****ing money down the drain. From a business perspective it is smart and necessary.

From an emotion motor racing fans point of view, its sad and annoying.

So be it, you'll see new brands and models which I think is good, but the drivers have to remain - that's who I support more than the plastic shells that cover the same cars underneath.

[FERG_51]

I have followed this sport since the early 70s I cant believe what it will be like with no Fords on the grid especially Bathurst makes me feel sad, its a kick in the guts.

[SM1DY]

I'm feeling a little disenchanted with Ford right now.

[LTDHO]

Final nail in the coffin for both FoMoCo and V8SC.

Not a surprise really.

[HULK EF]

Die hard supporters wont forget this decision quickly and even I would think twice investing in a new ford now that falcon is being killdd and its v8 supercar prescence severely threatned. Bad enough trying to recover from no v8 in the 80s. No holden n ford rivalry in the supercar races. No interest from me.

[TIC-302]

a few thousand emails to ford HQ in Melbourne to express our disappointment wouldn't go astray!

I could have lived with no falcon racing in the future but now Ford is wiping their hand off it is disappointing, i am aware that its a business decision however a minor sponsorship program for the future with a couple of key teams comited to the brand to "save face " with the fans should be mandatory !

[ivorya]

So they are not supporting v8's as the Falcon is dead past 2015!!!

So all v8's need to do is change the rule's, to modern day rules, and allow all types of cars. 4 doors/ 2 doors etc.

I think this is a push from Ford to get V8's out of the past and to h them into the present. The article is Holden Hot Air

[FGX335]

I'll be that guy in 2050 still driving my FG X XR8. They make nothing else I want to drive, they've pulled out of the sport that has made me passionate for Ford, and I can't see anything on the horizon that I will want to own after 2016. They've virtually locked me into their last car. No one is making me do it obviously, but I just don't see any other option.

In a couple of generations time, people won't even know what Ford has accomplished, or even care, and this will all be a page in history. I never thought that I would see this day...

[Joe5619]

That just sucks!!! Why announce this weekend for? Complete dumb *****!!!

[buggerlugs]

Hmmmm, better make the most of this and next years Bathurst.....

[FPV8U]

I'll wait until this is Official from Ford before completely losing faith.

[DJM83]

Such disappointment.
I can see why.

[Charliewool]

12 hour is looking more and more attractive!

[Noddy]

I don't think the v8's would come out with such negative press before their biggest race if it wasn't factual. I 'hope' something is stitched together before the end of 2016 but my gut says it won't eventuate.

I'm a motor racing tragic even though I've lost some interest in the v8's over the last few years, I was really looking forward to the mustang arivial and hoped it could be a replacement for the falcon on the race track. This makes perfect sense even though it may have no effect on sales of the road car.

[V8 Ghia Mike]

'Moving forward'.....

Ford don't realise that by angering and alienating their existing 50 year plus Australian fanbase, they are poisoning their own brand even further. V8 Supercars doesn't only promote Falcon, it creates brand awareness. Why in hell would a ****ed off fan now recommend a Focus to his wife, or buy a Festival for the daughter or extoll the virtues of Ranger to his tradie mates?

Yes, I know the V8 sponsorship hasn't been working well in that respect, judging by current sales figures. But haven't Ford learnt that the multigenerational customer loss caused by wimping out of motorsport in the 80s will repeat itself for the next few generations?

300 Festivas a month is not a good result for social media and trashy TV show sponsorship. Ford, you've gone soft. It's hard being a Ford fan these days.

[zipping]

Originally Posted by Fab

"FPR last night said they were still negotiating with Ford and had not given up on securing a new one year deal."

BTW, James Phelps wrote that article.

James Phelps article obviously briefed by Warburton to put maximum pressure on Ford at the biggest race of the year.

Can I just say this if Warburton and his board put as much thought and effort into making the series entertaining and television ratings as high as possible as they do POLITICS then they wouldn't have sponsors walking out and now potentially a manufacturer.

When Ford announce their plans then ill be happy or annoyed but I'm not buying this crap atm.

[kypez]

Originally Posted by Noddy

I don't think the v8's would come out with such negative press before their biggest race if it wasn't factual. I 'hope' something is stitched together before the end of 2016 but my gut says it won't eventuate.

I'm a motor racing tragic even though I've lost some interest in the v8's over the last few years, I was really looking forward to the mustang arivial and hoped it could be a replacement for the falcon on the race track. This makes perfect sense even though it may have no effect on sales of the road car.

Unless they are trying to put pressure on Ford to commit to next season and to show them the uproar and brand damage that could occur from non-sponsorship.

Ford is losing its relevance to me more and more, day by day. But thats what we get when we dont have our own Brand being manufactured here.

I put blame where blame is due. The consumer. No one buys the product and most people on this forum buy second hand cars. What do you expect from a company that no one supports?! Its cyclical. You dont support the brand, the brand stops supporting you, and around we go.

The 80's was very different because the brand was still being supported. Now, its a very different story.