New Gen3 Mustang to debut in Bathurst

The re-skinned seventh-generation Gen3 Ford Mustang will make its public debut in Bathurst.

Ford unveiled its new seventh-generation Mustang road car on Thursday (AEST).

The Blue Oval’s Mustang motorsport fleet was also revealed in line with the presentation.

Included in the six-strong Ford Performance reveal was the re-skinned Gen3 Mustang Supercar.

Tickets for the Repco Bathurst 1000 are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.

Tickets for the October 6-9 event are available on Supercars.com and Ticketek.

In a landmark event for Ford, Bathurst will host the first iteration of a seventh-generation Mustang racer as a physical property.

Animations and renders of the Mustang racers were part of Thursday’s launch.

The new Ford will join the Chevrolet Camaro on track on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the event.

The cars will be also on display in pit lane for the duration of the weekend.

The Gen3 Mustang and Camaro prototypes were revealed in Bathurst last year.

Dick Johnson Racing is the homologation team for Ford, and Triple Eight for General Motors.

To date, Mustang prototype testing has been carried out with the S550 body shape.

It effectively means Supercars, DJR and Ford Performance have had to develop two aerodynamic packages.

DJR has led the way with the Mustang, although Ford Performance has played a key role in aero and engine development.

The engines were recently taken to the United States for durability testing.

The two Gen3 aero packages will be ratified in official VCAT testing later this year.

A preliminary VCAT was carried out on the Gen3 prototypes at Wellcamp Airport in June, albeit with the S550 shape.

The S650 Mustang will also campaign in NHRA competition in 2023.

The model will make its NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2024.

A GT3 programme was also highlighted, which could see Ford racing for victory in the Bathurst 12 Hour in future years.

The new GT3 Ford's official race debut would be the 2024 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Mark Rushbrook, Global Director of Ford Motorsport, was excited to have Bathurst as the launchpad for the new Mustang racer.

“Great news for us last night, and a great future for Mustang racing,” Rushbrook said.

“DJR is the homologation team, they’ve been very close with the aero development with the body part design.

“The transformation of the car is well underway and on schedule for Bathurst.

“With VCAT still pending, it’s as final as it can be at this point subject to any modifications."

The 2022 Supercars season will hit enduro mode at Mount Panorama next month.