Supercars lift a gear with Mustang arrival
REBECCA WILLIAMS SUPERCARS chief executive Sean Seamer has predicted the Ford Mustang’s highly anticipated arrival to the grid will excite fans and broaden the sport’s following.
After a record-breaking year for the series, there is already a huge buzz around the racing launch of the Mustang Supercar in 2019 which is set to open a new chapter in the Ford-versus-Holden rivalry.
The iconic American muscle car will replace the Ford Falcon as it makes its return to the grid after a three-decade absence.
Championship- winning team DJR Team Penske, Tickford Racing and 23 Red Racing will race the new V8-powered Mustang, which was this week given the official go-ahead to start on the grid next year.
Seamer expected the Mustang to bring a new level of in- terest to the category.
“For us it’s about relevance first and foremost that our fans get to enjoy a car racing that’s on the road and that’s modern,’’ Seamer said.
“The existing Falcon’s getting a little bit older and whilst it’s sad to say farewell to the Falcon, it’s obviously renewed some interest and passion from Ford fans around the Mustang.
“Hopefully that ignites a group of our fans that have been waiting for the Mustang to come back, but also given the broad appeal of the Mustang as a car – I keep calling it this, but it is genuinely a cultural icon – we hope that helps broaden our audience, too.
“It can help us broaden the appeal of the sport.’’
The Mustang’s arrival comes on the back of Ford’s decision to recommit its financial support to the series after sensationally pulling their backing three years ago.
It will be up against Holden’s ZB Commodore and the Nissan Altima, despite the latter losing its factory support.
Seamer said the series would continue to try to attract new manufacturers.
“We’re continually talking to a range of different manufacturers about what the options are, what the sport does, what the benefits for them are,’’ he said.
“Our focus for this year and for the next couple of years will be making it as easy as possible for them to participate and extract value from the sport … if we can get that right, I think we can expect to see one or two more manufacturers.’’
In a year when Scott McLaughlin claimed his maiden Supercars title, the series enjoyed an increase in its television and digital audiences and attendances.
The 2019 season will see the introduction of the Perth night race, while there will be no endurance lead-in race for Bathurst after the Sandown 500 was moved to November.