Triple Eight Ford Mustang's First laps: A Date Set, But Not Without Controversy
The highly anticipated return of the Triple Eight Ford Mustang to the race track is finally here! But before the engines roar to life, there's a bit of a twist. The team has confirmed the dates for its first track activity since switching from General Motors to Ford, but a recent development has caused a stir among fans.
Triple Eight had initially planned to hit the track with a Mustang as early as September last year. However, a crucial requirement to send their first completed car to the Windshear wind tunnel resulted in a significant delay. This delay has sparked debates among enthusiasts, as some question the impact on the team's performance and the overall competitiveness of the Ford Mustang.
Despite the delay, the team is now set to take to the Queensland Raceway laps following the launch of the Red Bull Ampol Racing squad's new colors in Geelong, Victoria, on February 7. The February 9-10 outings will mark the first laps for the three new chassis, while February 8 will be a rookie day for recruit Jackson Walls.
Walls joins the team in the SCT Motorsport customer entry, running alongside the Red Bull Ampol cars for Broc Feeney and Will Brown. But here's where it gets controversial... Supercars will also conduct pre-season parity testing at the circuit across the two days, with a Toyota Supra and Chevrolet Camaro joining the Fords on track. This has led to some speculation about the fairness of the testing and the potential advantage it may give to certain teams.
Further parity evaluations with all three brands are also set to take place at Mount Panorama during the following weekend's Bathurst 12 Hour event. Triple Eight's three new cars are in addition to the one sent to the US wind tunnel. The wind tunnel car returned to its Melbourne workshop on Friday and will be used for the Bathurst parity testing before acting as the squad's spare and wildcard chassis.
While the team has indicated that the Queensland Raceway running will be open to the public, it's clear that this return to the track is not without its controversies. With the addition of parity testing and the presence of other brands, the question remains: will the Ford Mustang be able to compete on an even playing field? Only time will tell. But one thing's for sure: this is a development that every racing enthusiast will be watching closely.
What do you think? Will the Ford Mustang be able to hold its own against the competition? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
