Henry's new-look stable of stars for 2000
5/2/2000 15:28 (Jason Whittaker) - The Ford Motorsport stable has become decidedly crowded over the past few months, as Henry throws his support behind plenty of new V8 Supercar blood in a dramatic increase in support for the V8 Supercar class, this year.
In a change of face for the Blue Oval icon, The Ford Motor Company of Australia will "up the anti" in their support of Motorsport in Australia this year, in an attempt to rectify Ford's disappointing year both on the track, and in the showroom.
Led by Ford Racing supremo Howard Marsden, Ford will be out in force on the V8 Supercar circuit like never before in the new century, with Ford throwing it's support behind no less than ten V8 Supercar teams for season Y2K.
Spearheaded by the Factory outfit of Glenn Seton and Neil Crompton, Ford's campaign for a Shell Series Championship will also include Dick Johnson's men, Paul Radisich and Steven Johnson, plus the Stone Brother's Craig Baird and Tony Longhurst and Mitre 10 Racing's Mark Larkham.
Joining the Ford ranks this year are John Bowe's Cat Racing outfit, who ran without direct support for Ford last year, and Super Touring convert Brad Jones, who will campaign an Ozemail Internet-backed AU Falcon.
Ford has also added four exciting young prospects to its ever-expanding squadron. Cameron McLean, who takes the step-up into Level 1 ranks after competing in the Privateer class last year, joins Ford Factory ranks along with Steven Ellery, who secured major backing from Super Cheap Auto recently, and fellow Queenslander Paul Weel, who will continue to run the K & J Thermal Falcon.
Each team will receive direct support from the Ford Factory, both financial and technical, to varying degrees.
"This year we have consolidated the existing structure of Ford Racing and expanded to include some of the promising Ford teams from 1999, which have previously run without our direct assistance," Ford Racing Manger Howard Marsden said.
"The existing teams enter the year more certain of the AU XR8 Falcon after a hard year's experience."
"We have also picked up some teams and drivers of the future such as the new Brad Jones outfit, Super Cheap Auto with Steve Ellery and Greenfield Mowers Racing, which was excellent last year in the EL XR8 Falcon."
While the Ford super-teams of DJR, FTR and SBR will lead the Ford charge, Marsden is especially excited about acquiring some new blood to compete under the Ford Racing banner.
"I am particularly pleased to see that Ford Racing in 2000 has an interest in some promising young drivers such as Craig Baird, Steve Ellery, and Paul Weel, all of whom I believe have great futures ahead of them in V8 Supercar racing," Marsden said.
While the funding from Ford is important, it is the technically advantage each team will receive from Ford Racing that will prove to be the advantage.
"I want to make it clear that Ford is not just putting up money. We are also putting up experience in the form of our technical assistance," Marsden said. "We are determined to support our ongoing commitment to motorsport."
In an effort to achieve greater parity with their Holden counterparts, Ford has expanded it's technical Racing program, with the appointment of experienced motoring men Matthew Lyall, who takes-up the newly created position of Technical Design Liaison, and Steve Hoinville, who joins the Ford camp as an Engineer.
The expansion of Ford's Motorsport program will also include a new Karting Series, the Ford Rotax Challenge, will become a nursery for young Australian driving talent, and provide a feeder category for the Formula Ford Series.
"Our goal is to create not only a stable and successful group of Ford Racing teams, but also strong and affordable feeder categories that will produce the stars of the future in Australian motor racing," Marsden said.
"2000 marks the beginning of a new age for Ford Racing Australia."
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