***Ford to be killed off V8 Supercars circuit at end of 2015***

[olds]

Not the first time they have pulled out when the going got tough . They will be back at some stage makes for good PR in the future with headlines like "Ford returns to v8s "

[blueoval]

Wow. *That is all*

[Maka]

I'm stunned, but from Fords business perspective i begrudgingly accept it. Will Ford come back with Mustang & the 999 team moniker down the track? Maybe another manufacturer will join the series? C'mon Audi you can do it!

cheers, Maka

[blueoval]

Originally Posted by Maka

I'm stunned, but from Fords business perspective i begrudgingly accept it. Will Ford come back with Mustang & the 999 team moniker down the track? Maybe another manufacturer will join the series? C'mon Audi you can do it!

cheers, Maka

I tell you what, IF Audi joined in, it would be difficult for me to stay away from the series.

[BA GT-HO]

God some of the reactions.. really?

DAMN THEM!! I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO MORE COTF RUNNING AROUND WITH SOME FORD PANELS BOLTED ONTO IT!!! Who cares, all the cars are the same, this category is sadly dying, just move over to GT3 already.

You really think they are going to spend $60 million on a sport no one cares about anymore and on a car that is dead when they can spend a fraction of that advertising Fiestas/Focus to chicks watching chicks shows? Clever move I say.

[Grippy]

Originally Posted by BA GT-HO

God some of the reactions.. really?

DAMN THEM!! I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO MORE COTF RUNNING AROUND WITH SOME FORD PANELS BOLTED ONTO IT!!! Who cares, all the cars are the same, this category is sadly dying, just move over to GT3 already.

You really think they are going to spend $60 million on a sport no one cares about anymore and on a car that is dead when they can spend a fraction of that advertising Fiestas/Focus to chicks watching chicks shows? Clever move I say.

I was hoping Ford would put their hand in their pocket to make the new Mustang happen in V8SC's should 2 doors be accepted in the series. What a great way to advertise the companies brand new performance car it would be.

[FPV8U]

Where does 60Million come from? Nothing like that money is being spent by any if the brands in the series.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by Grippy

I was hoping Ford would put their hand in their pocket to make the new Mustang happen in V8SC's should 2 doors be accepted in the series. What a great way to advertise the companies brand new performance car it would be.

That's not gonna be till 2016 that its even possible.

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Where does 60Million come from? Nothing like that money is being spent by any if the brands in the series.

Its 3 million to FPR isn't it...and body panels/parts to DJR.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by burnz

they still have to sell cars here

Unless they plan to stick a V8 in a Fiesta or Ranger, I don't see the point of advertising on a platform that has little relevance to the model being sold

[b0son]

Originally Posted by BA GT-HO

just move over to GT3 already.

How good would a GT3 Bathurst race be.... especially if it were on the international FIA GT calendar

[Oxa384]

weird decision.Penske surely wouldn't of commited knowing that it would be a 1 year deal?? id say there is going to be a rule change to allow 2 doors to race (mustang). FORD US might be interested in giving more support if this is the case.

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by b0son

Unless they plan to stick a V8 in a Fiesta or Ranger, I don't see the point of advertising on a platform that has little relevance to the model being sold

Volvo seem to think otherwise.

[EgoFG]

This article reads incorrectly.

The headline should be

Ford is (rumoured to be) stopping sponsorship of V8Supercars.

This does not mean that there will be no more Fords on the Grid.
I predict that there will be Fords on the Grid until the Falcon Ends production.

[FGX335]

To clarify, it isn't this decision that has made me buy one last car. It is the fact that they will no longer have a decent sized car with a V8 in it. If they were to bring something out at a later date, I would consider it.

All I am saying is that this is just another kick in the guts to the loyal Falcon fans. Can't say I blame them TBH, but still disappointing.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by timeout

Dare I say it in response to the article- sponsoring ***** like the batchorlette say it all really.

For us yes, but there is a specific group that is going to buy a Focus at 1% finance (and it ain't us) because the chick in the ad did. Its the easy swayable, unimaginative, mind numb 20 some-things that want a cheap cute little car that are watching the Batchor/lette

Originally Posted by V8 Ghia Mike

Ford, you've gone soft. It's hard being a Ford fan these days.

They were never hard! And it has always been!

[WPR1]

Start sending emails to Ford if you haven't started already telling them how important it is to you that they be involved.

I have been for months it can't hurt.

[outback_ute]

Originally Posted by zipping

James Phelps article obviously briefed by Warburton to put maximum pressure on Ford at the biggest race of the year.

Can I just say this if Warburton and his board put as much thought and effort into making the series entertaining and television ratings as high as possible as they do POLITICS then they wouldn't have sponsors walking out and now potentially a manufacturer.

When Ford announce their plans then ill be happy or annoyed but I'm not buying this crap atm.

I'm with you. On the other hand even if it is true I would be surprised to see anything official until after the race at least.

[zipping]

THE boss of Ford Performance Racing is urging Ford fans not to give up hope and that they are doing everything in their power to keep the manufacturer in V8 Supercars.

The Daily Telegraph exclusively revealed that Ford will end its commercial support of V8 Supercars racing at the end of the 2014 season, with the prospect of no Fords on the grid after 2015.

FPR team principal Tim Edwards denies any final decision has been made, and that the team is still in deep negotiations with Ford Australia about an extension to their current contract, which expires at the end of 2014.

“It’s not technically true what’s being reported,” Edwards told Fox Sports News.

“At the moment we are still in negotiations with Ford about a future agreement. It’s premature to say that it’s a lost cause.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sp...-1227086286168

“It’s taken us a while to get to this point but we are still negotiating with them. It’s not a fait accompli at this stage.”


Dick Johnson Racing has also supplied a statement to Fox Sports News over reports Ford’s exit from V8 racing is imminent.

“Dick Johnson Racing does not receive a cent from Ford and Dick’s had a gutful of playing spokesman for the company,” it said.

Speculation has surrounded Ford’s future in the sport since its Australian arm announced that it would cease manufacturing cars in 2016.

At the same time, they have reduced their support of the category to just FPR, the number of Fords on the V8 grid shrinking to six.

[damoose]

Not believing any of this until official announcement from Ford at this stage I believe its all a lot of political posturing.

[STINKY NINJA]

Originally Posted by blueoval

I tell you what, IF Audi joined in, it would be difficult for me to stay away from the series.

They make really nice looking cars,if i could afford a 4 door v8 audi id be set!

[kypez]

Originally Posted by FPV8U

Where does 60Million come from? Nothing like that money is being spent by any if the brands in the series.

$60 mill is their entire marketing budget (according to the article)... not V8SC budget.

[zipping]

If Ford spend $60 millballs on marketing I'm a monkeys uncle. I couldn't think of a worse performing marketing department and its been discussed many times on these boards.

Live interview with Tim Edwards

http://www.foxsports.com.au/video?v=..._1227086202575

[Whitey-AMG]

Originally Posted by vztrt

Volvo seem to think otherwise.

Yes they do :
And the Irony here is that the S60 Polestar, features an inline six-cylinder turbo not a V8 - yet Volvo still see fit to use the V8 Supercar platform to "enhance" its image regardless. According to them - its working - VERY well.

An old article - but demonstrates the point
http://www.caradvice.com.au/290539/v...-says-company/

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by zipping

If Ford spend $60 millballs on marketing I'm a monkeys uncle. I couldn't think of a worse performing marketing department and its been discussed many times on these boards.

Just cause they don't spend it on the Falcon doesn't mean they don't use it. You think the crappy adds on TV are cheap?

[TC200six]

I think V8SC has been declining in relevance and this is another nail in the coffin. I know there is a lot of Holden fans, but I reckon a large amount of their fanbase are Ford supporters too. Without factory funding, the existing Ford teams will eventually switch to another manufacturer and the series might become dropped from the anti-siphoning list altogether and become exclusively for Foxtel if TV ratings drop too much.

[waggaclint]

If the rumour does come to fold, it will be very interesting to see where FPR/DJR end up? It would be good to see them work together to bring in a new manufacturer..

[Mighty Reds]

Running a Ford in this series even without factory support would be an attractive opportunity purely because of the supporter base, FPR has a solid fan base and would risk losing that if they swapped brands because of a few manufacturer dollars.

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by Fox Sports

Dick Johnson Racing has also supplied a statement to Fox Sports News over reports Ford’s exit from V8 racing is imminent.

“Dick Johnson Racing does not receive a cent from Ford and Dick’s had a gutful of playing spokesman for the company,” it said.

Ouch.

[PridenJoy]

^I found that a little harsh too.

[swanee]

More quality Daily Telegraph reporting

It's more of a tabloid paper than a newspaper