FORD Supercars teams have made upgraded aero components to bring to Mount Panorama in the hope of a pre-race parity tweak being approved.
Adjustments to the Gen3 Mustang’s front bar and rear wing have been proposed, following a Blue Oval examination of data.
The trigger for a mandatory parity review has not been hit again five times in an eight-race span since Townsville, but Ford did complete aero testing after The Bend and generally struggled last time out at the Sandown 500.
MORE: New doors, panels for Mustang at Bathurst
Ford is pushing Supercars to sign off on the changes, but there is believed to be stiff opposition from General Motors homologation team Triple Eight.
So, three days out from opening practice at the 2023 Repco Bathurst 1000, there continues to be uncertainty surrounding the specification the Mustangs will race in.
V8 Sleuth has learnt multiple Ford teams have made the appropriate parts and are ready to transport them to the Mountain accordingly.
Tickford CEO Tim Edwards today spoke of the eerie waiting game leading into the biggest race of the year.
“At the end of the day, my job is to try to keep everybody motivated regardless,” he told V8 Sleuth.
“We can’t influence it so it’s better not focusing on it.
“We’ve made the parts – if it gets approved, we’ll put them on. If not, we’ll still go there and put our best foot forward and do everything we can to win that race. “
Ford teams are concerned they will not be able to keep pace with the Camaros if the upgrades are not approved.
“Obviously strategy can help there but you don’t want to rely on just trying to strategically win the race because if things don’t pan out and there isn’t Safety Cars to help bring you into the race, then if you haven’t got a fast car you’re on the back foot all day,” Edwards continued.
“You end up compromising strategy decisions that might help you but they’re always risky.
“Fundamentally, if you go there with a fast car, you have got half a chance.”
This will be Tickford’s last Bathurst 1000 as a four-car outfit for the foreseeable future, having committed to downscaling to two cars from 2024.
