Ford Racing Debuts New Global Motorsport Identifier
Oct 30, 2012– Las Vegas, USA (Techreleased) – From the original 999 of 1901 through the Le Mans winning GT40s of the 1960s to today’s array of Ford-powered racing cars around the world, competition has always been integral part of the Ford DNA.
Now Ford Racing is highlighting the importance of competition around the world with a new global identifier being applied to race cars supported and powered by Ford.
“Racing Ford products predates the Ford Motor Company, as Henry Ford himself raced and won in 1901 to generate interest for the company he was trying to start,” says Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “We haven’t stopped racing for over 110 years – in sports cars, off-road trucks, rallies, stock cars, open-wheel cars, drag racing and lately even action sports like drifting and rallycross. Everywhere drivers compete, Ford is there.”
A new signature look
A distinctive blue/black identifier inspired today’s Ford Racing signature look that was introduced on the new 2013 Fusion that will run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series beginning with the 2013 Daytona 500. In a bold move to unify Ford’s global racing efforts, this look was applied to a variety of Ford race vehicles, including NASCAR Fusion and Mustang, NHRA Mustang Funny Car, GRAND-AM Focus ST-R, Rally America Fiesta, BITD off-road F-150, CTCC Focus, and V8 Supercar Falcon.
Ford Racing prototypes like the Fusion and concepts like the Mustang Cobra Jet Twin-Turbo are finished in white with a wide, offset black and blue stripe running over the length of the car. Development cars are distinguished by having the black and blue stripes on a matte black base instead of white.
The flanks feature a rising black wedge with the blue and black identifier bars on the rear pillar. A variation that incorporates the classic striking Cobra is found on the Mustang Cobra Jet Twin-Turbo concept being shown at the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.
Going forward, the blue and black bars will be a consistent element of all Ford-powered race cars that participate in contingency programs including those in sports car racing. The bars are the cue that fans are looking at a car supported by Ford Racing.
Going global
Over the last six years Ford Motor Company has gone through a transformation into a more focused automaker offering a complete lineup of fuel efficient, high quality products built and sold around the world. Ford Racing exists to support the Ford brand.
With a range of award-winning EcoBoost engines with three, four and six-cylinder layouts, a global design language led by the all-new 2013 Fusion and smart technology like SYNC, Ford is tying together all of its production vehicles under the blue oval.
“Earlier this year, we reached out to all forms of racing around the world to showcase EcoBoost with a new common livery on the race cars,” adds Allison. “We’re using racing to reach out to enthusiasts, reinforcing the message about the unification of Ford into a single, more focused manufacturer powered by exciting, fuel efficient and high performance turbocharged engines.”
“We’re bringing together our production vehicles under the global Ford banner, and we’re mirroring that by creating a visual connection everywhere we race around the world,” adds Allison
