Why Mustang Supercar will race with V8 power

Ford Australia boss Graeme Whickman says the company had a “long discussion” about powertrain options for its Supercars Mustang before deciding to stick with the V8.

The marque officially returns to Supercars next year under a deal in which the car will be jointly developed by US arm Ford Performance and local squads DJR Team Penske and Tickford.

While the Mustang body replaces that of the Falcon, the teams will continue to run their existing 5.0-litre V8 engines.

It is understood Ford weighed-up developing a Supercars version of its EcoBoost V6 turbo, which races in GT competition, before making the final call.

Manufacturers are welcome to look beyond V8s under Supercars’ Gen2 rules, and Whickman isn’t ruling out a change in the future, including adopting electric technology

Holden recently called a halt to the development of its V6 turbo Supercars engine, also opting to stay with the V8 for now.

“We had long discussions about powertrain and first and foremost we needed to be competitive,” Whickman told Supercars.com.

“We chose to go with the V8 as we re-enter. It doesn’t obviously preclude us from doing something in the future, but to be competitive and also to bring the vehicle into racing, that was probably the most competitive and reliable way.

“Clearly, we have seen some news recently on one of the other OEM teams in terms of what they might or might not do in terms of other powertrains. That is less relevant to us, but we may go to all sorts of spaces.

“I’d like for an example to see [if you could] electrify… So, I think the field is pretty open as to where you might go with powertrain but our first toe back in the water is going to be with V8.”

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer, Ford’s Whickman and Danni Winter (General Manager - Marketing), Dick Johnson, Ryan Story, Rod Nash and Tim Edwards

Tickford team principal Tim Edwards and DJR Team Penske managing director Ryan Story said that using their existing engines is ideal.

“From a racer’s point of view, doing one thing [changing the body only] is preferable,” Edwards said.

“At least we can go into 2019 with a new aerodynamics package without confusing what might have changed from a powertrain point of view.”

Added Story: “Our focus is on Mustang. We have a very competitive drivetrain with the V8 and both teams have our own respective programs.

“That’s what our focus is. 2019 is all about Mustang.”

Mondeo ruled out early

Whickman also revealed that initial discussions about returning to Supercars included the possibility of using the Mondeo sedan.

The decision was, however, made early in the process to focus on the Mustang, which has a rich racing heritage, including in Australia.

“We thought about it,” he said of the Mondeo.

“This is well before conversations with Ford Performance, well before conversations with the teams. We thought about what could be potential vehicles and what would be the fit.

“We felt it was a natural fit for Mustang. When you could sit there as a race enthusiast and as a car person you think ‘what are my options’ and given the change in Supercars’ view on what could go on the track, it could have been a Focus, for example.

“But the Mustang was the right fit and that’s why we were always aiming towards that. We did the assessment and we decided Mustang was the right one.”

The Mondeo-sized Ford – badged as the Fusion in the US – is used in NASCAR’s Cup Series by outfits including Team Penske, with the Mustang body raced in the second-tier Xfinity Series.