reasons for Ford's success.

[Mattracer]

An absolutely brilliant year for Ford in 2003 taking the Championship for the first time since 1997. But it wasn't a one-sided affair as so many of Holden's Championships have been in recent seasons. Despite SBR and Ambrose's brilliance and ultimate pace, Holden salvaged some pride for the season, taking Adelaide overall, the Sandown 500 and Bathurst and Murphy running away from SBR in NZ.

So it wasn't cut and dried for Ford but they held it together and came through. To me, the excellent work of Howard Marsden and the savvy marketing from Ford boss Mr Polites laid the foundations for the season and SBR surfed in on the wave of momentum from the back end of the '02 season and got there.

When you look at the results sheet, pretty even season. Holden got the big event races and Ford took the Championship overall. The best and most even season since the mid- nineties. Holden's ownership woes played their part no doubt, but at no stage were they ever not in contention despite their problems. Bring on 2004

[TSR]

Agree with you Mattracer, as a live long FORD man I would like to see more FORDS up the front, with the SBR

[rocket]

i partly agree but add that ford are now on a more even playing field than they have been since the EF (although holden are still able to pull concessions out of left field, ie the continuation of the chev motor bull**it) this is due to the ford factory finally deciding to have a bit of a go in the political stakes & because SBR are a class act & well infront of the other ford teams for whatever reason(s). all that needs to happen now is for holden to stop getting these little concessions, after all THEY WANTED to change to the new engine, then we will have a damn good chance of seeing an even competition.
the only thing i can see that will be able to make the cars anymore technically "even" would be to have a single engine builder that is non biased build all the teams engines so that both the ford & holden engines put out as close as posible the same amount of torque & power, this will eliminate all the 'they have we dont rubbish' & because the rest of the cars are as similar as posible it then reverts to the teams that can set up their cars better

[Ozfords]

But still "HROs" grip of championship is still apparent! I'll happily be a proud Ford fan when we have FOUR different Ford teams win a round in the championship and have at least 5 drivers at the end of the championship.

Ozfords

[DannyG]

reasons for Ford's success.?

Stone Brothers racing and Marcos Ambrose

Hi, im new around here but ive been following Australian Motorsport for, well for years, 34 in fact!

I think it would be fair to say that Fords involvement has played a role (to what extent i dont know), and if we are to compete at ALL levels in the future Ford need to stay involved. But in reality, SBR have slowly but surely been working at it, Marcos has settled in and the results are starting to come there way. Good old fasioned hard work would be a large contributing factor to 'Fords' recent success.

Regards
Danny

[GTRMagic]

The reason for Ford's success is obvious... their number one team is an operation filled with racers living their dream, with the right blend of commercial nous to get enough dollars thru the door to enable the developments to come thru.

Ford is a passenger here, they write a cheque to this team for sure, but its not a works team by any stretch when the only thing supplied by the factory is the bodyshell and ongoing body panels... while every other part on the car is either made or bought in from specialist motorsport manufacturers.

That SBR was the only team truly competitive from the blue camp all year (Lowndes will even admit PI was a fluke!) because they arent waiting for handouts or technical support or freebies from Ford... they went out there, worked out what level of program they wanted... worked out who they wanted to drive and work for them... then put the right steps in place with the right tools to make it all happen.

Unlike some other teams who are surviving only on the corporate largesse of Big Blue... and the race performances reflect the level of financial commitment from proper commercial sponsors.

SBR did the Ford side proud in 2003... here's hoping the other SBR driver creates the magic in 2004

[DannyG]

"SBR did the Ford side proud in 2003... here's hoping the other SBR driver creates the magic in 2004"

Rusty will come good in 2004, infact i think he will give Marcos a shake every now and then, but it wont be too often.

I would like to see the other Ford teams being a bit more consistant. Its only a matter of time and FPR will work it out. I reckon it will take them all next year to work out where the motors should be made though!

[Armco Bender]

...'cause they went faster than the Holdens..

[vatuloa]

The new Ford was a good car
SBR and Marcos had a great year
HRT had problems when Tom Walkinshaw went under

Next year with ford having done the groundwork this year should have 3 to 4 teams all in line for a podium finish at every race.

[Mattracer]

It is arguable that the demise of TWR didn't have the effect that many supposed it would. HRT were a bit uneven and patchy throughout the year but the points system, played its part and kept them in the mix right until the end.

I would agree that apart from SBR, the other Ford teams' results were a bit thin on the ground but the foundations are there- the BA is an excellent car, arguably the best Ford racing product since the RS 500 and that was an almighty act to follow.

Ingall would be at home and comfortable with the team by now and his two round wins were not shaded by anyone else during the year other than Ambrose. After Ambrose, you would have to assume that either Ingall or Lowndes and possibly Bowe would be the Men Most Likely for Ford in 2004.

[Crash Test]

Originally posted by Mattracer
It is arguable that the demise of TWR didn't have the effect that many supposed it would. HRT were a bit uneven and patchy throughout the year but the points system, played its part and kept them in the mix right until the end.

But it did it's bit to bugger up proper testing for Kmart and Weel...

[DannyG]

Originally posted by Mattracer
It is arguable that the demise of TWR didn't have the effect that many supposed it would. HRT were a bit uneven and patchy throughout the year but the points system, played its part and kept them in the mix right until the end.

No not yet, there is no doubt HRT have there act together but IMHO whatever advantages they had from the TWR empire is now gone and its only a matter of time until the rest catch up

[Mattracer]

Going on the 2003 results, the rest (namely SBR) have already caught up and edged in front actually.

[Mattracer]

Originally posted by Crash Test
But it did it's bit to bugger up proper testing for Kmart and Weel...

In KRT's case, no evidence of that at Bathurst or Puke though...

[DannyG]

Originally posted by Mattracer
Going on the 2003 results, the rest (namely SBR) have already caught up and edged in front actually.

Cant disagree with that, however i think SBR were snapping at there heels for quite a while (car performance wise), Marcos has well and truly settled in and the results have come.
The telling story will be the next couple of years. No doubt SHRT wont forget how to make the cars quick but will they have that edge over the rest for years to come? History in motorsport suggests not

Anyway back on topic, the design of the BA as a road car with motorpsort in mind has to be another reason behind sbr's success

[Crash Test]

Originally posted by Mattracer
In KRT's case, no evidence of that at Bathurst or Puke though...

But they were only allowed to start limited testing before Bathurst, unless you count the car 46 business at the start of the season...

[Grimace]

Could an overseas based V8 supercar team (or any any tem prepeared to spend the money) test a car on overseas soil and not break the rules for testing days allocated.

Moffat often tested his Falcons in the US as we all know!

[DannyG]

Originally posted by Grimace
Could an overseas based V8 supercar team (or any any tem prepeared to spend the money) test a car on overseas soil and not break the rules for testing days allocated.

Moffat often tested his Falcons in the US as we all know!

ROFL there is always someone who will find the grey area's in the rules, good question!

[GTRMagic]

The answer for sure is yes... the problem remains where do they get a supply of the Dunlop Control Tyre???

Dunlop can ask to sight all 64 tyres allocated per car at any one time... they may notice if there are suddenly none to look at I would have thought.... while testing on Pirelli/Bridgestone/Hoosier/Yokohama/GoodYear/Avon/Michelin will achieve not a lot either.... except to show how rock hard the Dunlop is...

[mountainstar]

Originally posted by Grimace
Could an overseas based V8 supercar team (or any any tem prepeared to spend the money) test a car on overseas soil and not break the rules for testing days allocated.

Moffat often tested his Falcons in the US as we all know!

You're more than welcome over here. Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta would be perfect for the V8's.

[Grimace]

Originally posted by mountainstar
You're more than welcome over here. Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta would be perfect for the V8's.

Thanks for the invite !!!- ELKHART LAKE would be my first pick....

Imagine a V8 Supercar going down thru the corkscrew at Laguna Seca
better not give Tony C any ideas!

[Mattracer]

Well considering the heritge of the hardware under the bodywork, holding a round in the US would be far more palatable than a race in China. About the only spinoff would be HSV selling a few more of their bicycles.