Supercars: Dick Johnson Racing unveil design for new million-dollar Ford Mustang
Dick Johnson Racing has opened up on the design process for its new Mustang, which is set to become Australia’s most expensive and fastest Ford.
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Meet the million-dollar Mustang.
Already dubbed the “Camaro killer”, Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) have unveiled handwritten drawings of what is set to become Australia’s fastest Ford.
In a never seen before look into the V8 Supercar design process, DJR have lifted the bonnet on the 2022 Mustang Supercar in an all access interview with News Corp Australia.
Set to go into production early next year and to be driven by Anton de Pasquale in the Australian Supercar series, the Gen III Supercar will have a top speed in excess of 300kmh and look almost identical to the road-going version of the Mustang.
DJR co-owner Ryan Story has estimated the Gen III Mustang race car prototype will cost more than $1 million to build, making it Australia’s most expensive Ford.
“There is an additional cost with a first-up,” Story said of the definitely illegal for street-use car. “We are still finalising a lot of those costs.
“You are talking a million up when you add up all the labour and development costs. But once the first car is produced, the aim of the game is to be able to produce one for about $350,000, which will be a significant reduction on the current car, which runs at about $500,000.”
Showing the heavyweights at Ford have a genuine interest in Australian Supercars, the stunning sketch was drawn by Ford design whiz Anthony Colard in the Ford global design studio in Detroit, Michigan.
DJR have already begun constructing the chassis that will form the basis for de Pasquale’s 2022 race car.
“That shows you the length of integration we have with Ford,” Story said.
“They are committing time and resources to plan where we are heading together. A lot of work has already been undertaken by both parties and the chassis is already well progressed.
“The engine process is next and it will be a complex process as we are starting from a blank sheet.
“The aim of the game is to have this car on the grid for race one in 2022.”
DJR have already won three championship with the Mustang after bringing the American icon to Supercars in 2018. Unlike the Mustang that is being designed now, the car that won this year’s championship did not look like a road-going replica.
Many claimed the car looked more like a VW Beetle than a Mustang because it was squashed onto a short generic Supercar frame.
“We were very fortunate to partner for Ford Performance for the development of the Mustang we are racing currently,” Story said.
“Gen III is bringing back some of the road-going DNA to these cars.
“They are still a custom bespoke race car built for the racetrack but the Mustang that is racing the Camaro will have similar external surfaces that visually look like the road-going version, albeit fat, wide and angry.
“It is an exciting time and I can’t wait to see it go up against the Camaro. It is back to Red v Blue, Ford v GM, the way the championship started originally. The cars will sound good, look good and go bloody fast.”
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Originally published as Supercars: Dick Johnson Racing unveil design for new million-dollar Ford Mustang