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Penske “looking for opportunities” in Supercars

Roger Penske has not ruled out that the DJR Team Penske Supercars squad could shift away from the Ford brand in the future.

Fabian Coulthard and Luke Youlden, Team Penske Ford

Fabian Coulthard and Luke Youlden, Team Penske Ford

Bob Gloyn Photography

Scott Pye, Tony D’alberto, DJR Team Penske
Fabian Coulthard, Luke Youlden, Team Penske Ford
Scott Pye, Tony D’alberto, DJR Team Penske
Mark Winterbottom, Dean Canto, Prodrive Racing Australia Ford
Fabian Coulthard, Luke Youlden, Team Penske Ford
Cameron Waters and Jack Le Brocq, Prodrive Racing Australia
Fabian Coulthard and Luke Youlden, Team Penske Ford
Mark Winterbottom and Dean Canto, Prodrive Racing Australia Ford

While the team is steeped in Ford history with its links back to the Dick Johnson Racing days, it seems there are no assurances it will continue to represent the Blue Oval in Supercars in the future.

Ford’s factory involvement in Supercars is now over, meaning that both DJRTP and Prodrive Racing run Falcon bodyshapes based on earlier sponsorship deals and due to the high cost of developing and switching to a new aero package.

Penske also has a link to the Blue Oval on a global level, but despite having discussed Supercars with Ford in the US is not set to receive any factory support.

While committed to running the FG X Falcon bodyshape on its two cars for the 2017 Supercars season, Penske told media at Bathurst today that he would be open to discussing running a programme with another manufacturer in the future.

“We’re committed for Ford, we have a major relationship with them in the US, in NASCAR. We’re running two cars and a car with Wood Brothers. And I would expect as we go forward, especially next year, that we’ll be with Ford,” he said.

“[But] we’re a team that’s looking for opportunities. If something would come up that we felt would be a benefit for the overall operation, we might take a look at it.

“But I would say, today, we are steadfast in the Ford camp.”

‘Nothing like Bathurst’ in the US

Having just arrived at Mount Panorama this morning, Penske says the daunting circuit is like nothing he has seen before.

“It’s quite a circuit,” he said. “We have circuits over in the US, but nothing like this from a road course perspective.

“The walls on both sides, no mistakes, and certainly the elevation changes are amazing. To think of the speeds, and you go up and you can’t even see the road coming down through some of the blind corners, I take my hat off to all these drivers.”

Both DJR Team Penske Fords will take part in the Top 10 Shootout, which is about to get underway at Mount Panorama.

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