Bathurst 1000 champion Chaz Mostert and 2013 race winner Mark Winterbottom unveiled their new FG X Falcons on Friday, claiming the new aerodynamic package will put the blue oval at the front of the grid in 2015.
Previously known as Ford Performance Racing since 2003, the factory-backed team has been rebranded as Prodrive Racing Australia (PRA) as it prepares for life after Ford funding in 2016 and beyond.
Team owner Rod Nash and @daffidreynolds pull the covers off the new green machine! #teamgreen pic.twitter.com/53tHNtbVdd
— The Bottle-O Racing (@BottleORacing) February 5, 2015Here she is! The Dark Horse in all her glory! #SuperBlackNZ #V8SC pic.twitter.com/IQ3fit8oiJ
— Super Black Racing (@SuperBlackNZ) February 5, 2015Aside from the car sporting the FG X’s new wider grille, it has a modified front bumper and splitter, as well as a rear wing which is mounted behind the trailing edge of the bootlid.
PRA will field two Pepsi Max Crew FG X Falcons for potential title contenders Winterbottom and Mostert from the season-opening Adelaide 500 in March, with the Bottle-O car of David Reynolds and New Zealand's new Super Black Racing entry for Andre Heimgartner to be upgraded soon after the first event.
“The FG X not only looks fantastic but from the brief testing we’ve done there are clear gains over the previous model which is very encouraging for us all,” 10-year team veteran Winterbottom said.
“The team spent months developing the new aerodynamic package and while development doesn’t stop, we should start the season with a significant leg up over previous years.
“I’ve spent a decade with this team and while we’ve enjoyed a lot of success over a very long period, we all still want the ultimate prize of the title and I believe we have the equipment to do the job this year.”
All four Fords will make their 2015 track debut at this weekend’s Sydney Motorsport Park SuperTest which runs on Saturday and Sunday.
Ford is ending its long-running involvement in V8 Supercars ahead of the shutdown of local production at its Broadmeadows factory in Melbourne in October 2016, when the last Falcon will be produced.
As well as dumping the FPR tag, Ford signage on the factory team's cars will be limited to the front mudguards.