TICKFORD Racing co-owner Rod Nash has voiced support for Dick Johnson Racing’s status as the control Ford Gen3 Supercars engine supplier.
After a 2023 Repco Supercars Championship filled with parity qualms, change has been enacted.
Cars were sent to the United States for off-season aero parity testing, and DJR seized control of the Blue Oval engine program from Herrod Performance Engines.
With Ryan Story leading the charge, it’s widely believed that gains have been made on the powertrain front, and a new-spec engine is due to be presented to Supercars today following testing this week at Queensland Raceway and Winton.
All in all, it’s fuelled confidence among Ford teams that there will be no repeat of 2023.
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“First of all, last year was the year it was and so it is what it is,” Nash began, speaking with selected media.
“There’s lot of things that weren’t put in place right: the correct expertise.
“I felt there was a differentiation between what the GM guys had with Kenny Mac (McNamara) – Kenny Mac is well established, I worked with him back in the speedway days – whereas the Robbie Herrod thing was something new and fresh.
“And everyone is aware that the Coyote engine, making it into a race engine and to match up with a totally different engine, was a big task for everyone.
“There was a series of meetings at Gold Coast and it was evident by the Ford teams that we had to have a change, otherwise we were going to do the same this year.”
Regular meetings between head honchos from various Ford squads indeed had been clear to see in the paddock at the 2023 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
Nash continued: “We had to be aggressive on the engine side of things.
“It’s not one change, there’s lots of changes going on with what they have found, so I think the teams will be very supportive if they stay the supplier.”
Speaking to his belief in 2024 parity, Nash noted: “I am fully confident.
“I was lacking confidence last year. We lost our way and it’s just the way it is.
“And again, it didn’t start after Adelaide, it pretty well started at Gold Coast and then it has been a rocketship all the way through to now both with aero, as we know, and the engines.
“Parity is out there now as we speak today… parity is there, I’m confident.”
