Winterbottom confirms bid to have Mustang replace Falcon in Supercars

THE Mustang looks set to replace the iconic Falcon in Supercars next year with Mark Winterbottom announcing his Ford team’s plan to unleash the American legend in a new rivalry with Holden.

Ford Mustang for the 2018 Supercars season.

FORD will replace the iconic Falcon in next year’s Supercars championship with the Mustang.

Ford favourite Mark Winterbottom has confirmed Prodrive Racing Australia (PRA) is building a V8 model of the legendary American muscle car that will start a new chapter in the rivalry with Holden.

“The plan is to be in a Mustang,’’ Winterbottom said.

“It is a along way of being approved but it is being worked on in the factory right now. We are planning on being in a Mustang next year. That is what we want to be in and that is what the public want us to be in.’’

Ford Mustang for the 2018 Supercars season. Picture: Supercars

The Daily Telegraph last year revealed the team was considering replacing the Falcon with the Mustang in an exclusive report. We can now confirm a race car is being built.

“All the CAD (computer-aided design) work and stuff like that is well down the track,’’ Winterbottom said. “And the process is moving. This is what we want, this is what the sport wants and this is what the fans want.

“Right now we are trying to make the car fit on the shell. That is the biggest issue at the moment. We are working on getting the body shape to fit on the standard chassis. There is a lot involved with parity and we have a way to go until it is approved and ready to race.’’

The Mustang move will see the V8 legend live on despite the global shift to more fuel friendly engines that was predicted to see Supercars move to a V6 twin turbo era.

“I want to see the V8 live on,’’ Winterbottom said.

“I think from a Ford point of few it will be V8s for us. That is what we are working towards. I love the sound of the V8 and that is what attracted me to the sport. This sport is about sound and noise and nothing sounds as good as a big V8. The sport may change but for us it will be a V8.’’

The 2015 champion urged Holden and Nissan to follow suit by shifting to their very own “hero’’ cars.

“Each manufacturer has some very cool cars,’’ Winterbottom said.

“And I think it would an exciting new era for the sport if Holden went to the Camaro and Nissan went to the GTR. It would be fantastic to see these hero cars go head to head. People want to see cars that have sex appeal and history and these two door coupes would tick all the boxes. It would be pretty damn good to watch.’’

Mark Winterbottom says it’s time to move on from the Falcon.

A 12-year warrior for Ford, Winterbottom said he was saddened by the demise of the Falcon, which was first manufacturer in 1960.

“The Falcon has been an icon of Australian motorsport but its time is about to end,’’ Winterbottom said.

“It is a bit sad for me because it is the only car I have ever driven. I have been in V8s for 12 years and I have only driven a Falcon, so it is an end of an era. I certainly have a big affection for the Falcon but the motor industry has changed and it is almost time to move on.

“But the move to the Mustang would make the transition easier for me. We will be seeing one legend off and introducing another one.’’

James Phelps returns to Inside Supercars Wednesday at 6.30pm on Fox Sports 501