The Ford Falcon enters its final endurance campaign looking to add to its storied history at Mount Panorama, Bathurst, and take a 17th drivers’ championship.
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ne of the most successful cars in the history of the Bathurst 1000 will compete in the Great Race for the last time this October. Ford entrants will replace the Falcon with the Mustang in 2019, bringing to an end the five-decade history of the Falcon nameplate at Mount Panorama. The Falcon scored its first win in Australia’s Great Race on debut with Harry Firth and Fred Gibson in 1967. The victory for the XR GT model was
the first success for a V8 engine in the event and ushered in the era of Australian-built cars conquering the Mountain. The Falcon has won the Bathurst 500/1000 14 times, including some of the most famous wins in the history of the Great Race: Allan Moffat’s solo efforts in 1970 and 1971, the first event run to 1000 kilometres in 1973, the onetwo formation finish in 1977, Dick Johnson’s redemption in 1981, Stone Brothers Racing’s surprise win in 1998 and Triple Eight’s three-peat in 2006 to 2008.
The most recent win for the Falcon was courtesy of Chaz Mostert and Paul Morris in 2014, fighting back from 25th on the grid and an early-race incident to snatch the lead from an out-of-fuel Jamie Whincup on the final lap. The Falcon claimed its maiden Pirtek Endurance Cup win with Mostert and Steve Owen last season. While Tickford Racing gave the Falcon its most recent Bathurst wins in 2013 and 2014, DJR Team Penske has not won at Mount Panorama since Dick Johnson Racing’s last win in 1994.
DJR Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin is in the box seat to give the Falcon a final drivers’ championship win. Fittingly, it would be the 17th championship win for the Falcon courtesy of the driver of the iconic #17, made famous by Ford legend Johnson. The Falcon and Commodore are equal on 16 drivers’ championship wins at present, with a 17th championship win over its great rival a fitting farewell to the Falcon. Endurance event records, statistics and more from page 28.
Scott McLaughlin could give the Falcon a 17th and final championship win in its final season.
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23/7/18 10:05 pm