- UPDATE: 2023 Ford Mustang Supercars racer debuts at Bathurst 1000
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- October 4: Dick Johnson to pilot race car at Bathurst 1000
UPDATE: 2023 Ford Mustang Supercars racer debuts at Bathurst 1000
The 2023 Ford Mustang GT Supercars race car – the first in the world – has been unveiled at this weekend’s Bathurst 1000.
Uncovered today at Mount Panorama, the ‘Gen3’ Supercar will debut for the 2023 season, with a closer resemblance to the seventh-generation Mustang revealed in Detroit last month.
As detailed below, the prototype will be steered by Australian motorsport legend and three-time winner of the iconic race, Dick Johnson.
It was built and homologated by Dick Johnson Racing, in conjunction with Ford Performance.
The current Mustang racer is based on a chassis designed for the Falcon, leading to a contorted body, so the shift to a production-like shape will be welcome news for many Ford fans.
“It is fantastic to be able to show, for the very first time globally, the seventh-generation Mustang in racing form,” said Mark Rushbrook, global director of Ford Performance Motorsports.
Ford Australia president and CEO Andrew Birkic said it was a “special moment” to unveil the car in front of fans and drivers at Bathurst.
“It’s very fitting that Dick will take the car for its first laps this afternoon. He’s a legend of the sport, and an incredible ambassador for Ford,” added Birkic.
As announced in May, Walkinshaw Andretti United – traditionally associated with Holden – will race the Ford Mustang in 2023, joining the current Dick Johnson, Tickford, Grove and Blanchard racing teams.
For the first time ever, now-defunct Holden won’t appear in the next Supercars season, with the current ZB Commodore-themed ‘Gen2’ racers to be replaced by Chevrolet Camaro-based ‘Gen3’ cars.
The story to here
October 4: Dick Johnson to pilot race car at Bathurst 1000
Dick Johnson, a legend of Australian motorsport and a three-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, will be the first driver in the world to pilot Ford’s new Mustang racing car.
The new Gen3 Mustang GT Supercar’s Bathurst 1000 debut was confirmed a couple of weeks ago – marking its first appearance anywhere in the world – but today is the first confirmation of Johnson’s selection to drive the new hero car.
It’s a fitting choice, not least because DJR is Ford’s homologation team, but also because Johnson was the first driver of the current Gen2 Mustang Supercar at the Adelaide 500 in 2019.
The car will make its debut in pit lane at 12:30pm AEDT on Thursday, with Johnson then hitting the track later in the day.
“My team and I have been racing Fords for more than forty years, we are very proud representatives of and ambassadors for the Blue Oval,” Johnson said.
“We have been working extremely hard on making this car the best it can possibly be over the last couple of years, and to be the first person in the world to drive it after all of that work is fantastic. Any chance to drive around Mount Panorama is incredible, but to do it in Ford’s latest race car is an opportunity I simply couldn’t pass up.
“I can’t wait to drive the Mustang and see the fans across the top of the Mountain, it’s going to be very special indeed.”
This isn’t our first insight into the Gen3 Mustang Supercar, of course. Because, while its recent unveiling was our first look at its styling, Wheels Media brought you all the technical details – and some hot photos of the Gen2 car alongside the Camaro racer – in January.
Head on over to our story here for all the details, and catch up on all the S650 2023 Ford Mustang news at the links below.
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