END OF FORD ERA
As the Ford Falcon bids farewell to Supercars in Newcastle, Rebecca Williams asks five iconic drivers to recall their favourite moments
DICK JOHNSON
Championship winner — 1981 (Falcon), 1982 (Falcon), 1984 (Falcon), 1988, 1989.
Johnson won the first of his five championships in a Falcon in 1981, which he said remained his career highlight. “I know Bathurst is big, but to me a touring car championship is something that was pretty special,’’ Johnson said. “It was something I dreamt about doing ever since I was a kid,” he said.
ALLAN MOFFAT
Championship winner — 1973 (Falcon), 1976 (Falcon), 1977 (Falcon), 1983.
The Canadian-born champion regards his Bathurst victory in 1977 as his highlight. “Getting two cars over the line … it was pretty special,’’ Moffat said of his one-two finish with teammate Colin Bond. “I had no brakes. We raced the last 12 laps or so with no brakes, it wasn’t a good feeling”.
MARK WINTERBOTTOM
Supercars champion — 2015 (Falcon)
He won at Bathurst in 2013 with Steve Richards and claimed his maiden Supercars crown two years later in 2015. “Bathurst in ’13 was a big one. You don’t really understand the passion for the Falcon until you go up to the top of Mount Panorama,’’ he said. “Winning there in that iconic car, Tickford’s first win … that was a really big moment.”
RUSSELL INGALL
Supercars champion — 2005 (Falcon)
The driver nicknamed the “Enforcer” jumped teams from Holden to Ford in 2003 to Stone Brothers Racing to chase a championship win. “That ’05 championship was definitely the highlight because the championship is what I wanted and why I changed (teams),’’ Ingall said. “Holden, it was all about Bathurst, not the championship.”
CHAZ MOSTERT
Bathurst 1000 winner — 2014 (Falcon)
Mostert steered his Falcon to a memorable last-lap win at Bathurst in 2014 (with Paul Morris) after stealing the lead from a short-of-fuel Jamie Whincup late in the race. “Winning that race is so hard,’’ Mostert said.
“The championship is hard as well ... but there’s 161 laps around that track at Mount Panorama.”