Shots Fired! Ford pull sponsorship and support vehicles

[skaifeman]

A message from Detroit no doubt.
https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/08/03/ford-pulls-supercars-safety-car-and-advertising-support/

[LG]

The new beginning of the end?

[Bloopy]

Just when Sydney seemed like about the first event this year where multiple Mustangs passed Camaros towards the end of races. I heard snippets of Ben Croke in the press conference saying there was so much more work to do though.

[madbugger]

Can't blame them. Been right royally screwed over

[AlbertM]

Welp, if the decision was a result of Supercars blatant inaction on parity, who could blame them.

On the other hand Ford Australia are downsizing, (probably) leading to closure in the near future and the contract is simply up at the end of this season.

Hell-a funny reading the comments on other sites from the bowtie brigade. Questioning Ford's commitment to Supercars. Supercars paid GM to use Camaro. Now that's commitment...LOL!

[stevo qld]

Welp, if the decision was a result of Supercars blatant inaction on parity, who could blame them.

On the other hand Ford Australia are downsizing, (probably) leading to closure in the near future and the contract is simply up at the end of this season.

Hell-a funny reading the comments on other sites from the bowtie brigade. Questioning Ford's commitment to Supercars. Supercars paid GM to use Camaro. Now that's commitment...LOL!

There are multiple allegations in that lot. Would you care to provide some supporting evidence?

[fordman]

Welp, if the decision was a result of Supercars blatant inaction on parity, who could blame them.

On the other hand Ford Australia are downsizing, (probably) leading to closure in the near future and the contract is simply up at the end of this season.

Hell-a funny reading the comments on other sites from the bowtie brigade. Questioning Ford's commitment to Supercars. Supercars paid GM to use Camaro. Now that's commitment...LOL!

There are multiple allegations in that lot. Would you care to provide some supporting evidence?

I did read somewhere they are loosing something like $5b on their EVs? maybe they need the cash?

[AlbertM]

Welp, if the decision was a result of Supercars blatant inaction on parity, who could blame them.

On the other hand Ford Australia are downsizing, (probably) leading to closure in the near future and the contract is simply up at the end of this season.

Hell-a funny reading the comments on other sites from the bowtie brigade. Questioning Ford's commitment to Supercars. Supercars paid GM to use Camaro. Now that's commitment...LOL!

There are multiple allegations in that lot. Would you care to provide some supporting evidence?

Maybe, but the one that ruffled your feathers was Supercar buying Camaro. Dane laid it out in his Speedcafe column.

[stevo qld]

It is just Ford having yet another of their hissy fits.

[AlbertM]

Or commercial sense? Ford manufacture and sell road cars to the general public. Supercars safety car is hardly their bread and butter.

Years ago it was the the Holden boys that prided themselves that Holden played better politics. And threatening to pull out was seen as a legitimate bargaining technique.

[GASMAN]

Supercars paying for the Camaro
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/ford-frustration-puts-future-of-v8-supercars-in-doubt-90459

[stevo qld]

Or commercial sense? Ford manufacture and sell road cars to the general public. Supercars safety car is hardly their bread and butter.

...

Agreed, they sell very few Mustangs, but surely more than GM sells Camaros in Australia.

In fact, almost 3 out of every Ford vehicle delivered was a Raptor, 5145 of them, and topped the passenger car market.

https://www.drive.com.au/news/vfacts-july-2023-new-car-sales/

To be open, I could not find GM vehicles in the top 10.

So, following the rationale of the quote, the Ranger is the Ford bread and butter, and I would suggest the jam and cream.

Then we look at the course cars. There have been other companies come and go.

The support vehicles are a Safety Car-Ranger Raptor, a Mustang Course Car, a Ranger Raptor Recovery Vehicle, and a Medical Car Escape ST-Line. So, it follows that the Ford representation reflects their major sales and two minor types.

Ford Australia has pulled allegedly vital advertising dollars from Supercars telecasts and most races seem to be highligts only and with advertising from other companies.

I cannot even recall hearing about 'Ford Keys to the Circuit' and Fastest Lap'.

https://www.speedcafe.com/2023/08/03/ford-pulls-supercars-safety-car-and-advertising-support/

Ford obviously have more sales at stake than the low volume Mustang and GM have a great deal less.

Ford have more resources than Supercars and should be more involved in sorting out any of their alleged deficiencies.

PS: It has been suggested that Supercars selected the engine for use in the Mustang. It is a lovely engine, but very heavy, but I really doubt that the engine type was selected by Supercars.

[djr18fan]

Supercars paying for the Camaro
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/ford-frustration-puts-future-of-v8-supercars-in-doubt-90459

So no payment to GM. In fact GM contributing to the Gen 3 project albeit in a limited way.

And Rushbook stating Ford is responsible for making changes to the Mustang.
"it's very difficult for us as a manufacturer or our teams, that we love, to understand what the differences are in the cars - the Chevy and the Ford - and what changes we can make in the parameters and the restrictions that Supercars [employ]. It's a guessing game in many ways."

[AlbertM]

Supercars paying for the Camaro
https://www.carsguide.com.au/car-news/ford-frustration-puts-future-of-v8-supercars-in-doubt-90459

So no payment to GM. In fact GM contributing to the Gen 3 project albeit in a limited way.

And Rushbook stating Ford is responsible for making changes to the Mustang.
"it's very difficult for us as a manufacturer or our teams, that we love, to understand what the differences are in the cars - the Chevy and the Ford - and what changes we can make in the parameters and the restrictions that Supercars [employ]. It's a guessing game in many ways."

Roland dane claims to have brokered the deal to purchase the Camaro IP from GM.

Rushbrook is stating they don't have the data to compare to make changes. Supercars are withholding the data to compare the Camaro and the Mustang.

[AlbertM]

Ford have more resources than Supercars and should be more involved in sorting out any of their alleged deficiencies.

PS: It has been suggested that Supercars selected the engine for use in the Mustang. It is a lovely engine, but very heavy, but I really doubt that the engine type was selected by Supercars.

No doubt they do. But Fords hands are tied by Supercars. The frustration is that Supercars will not let Ford compare the data to find where the issues are.

The Coyote Ford engine was Supercars pick. They wanted to use it unbranded in all the cars. Ford said no. KRE cobbled together the Camaro engine and the Coyote was detuned to match.

We keep being told that Supercars is a technical parity and not a balance of performance formula. Yet all the changes and poking around in the dark have all been untested and they have relied on "seat of the pants" performance after making the changes. Supercars needs to be transparent, share the data with all. But that is not happening.

Why? Probably because Supercars are so heavily invested in Camaro they need to see it win. They need to retain the Holden fans that don't have brand to root for anymore.