Friday 10th August 2018

Ford Mustang NASCAR racer revealed

New design for Ford's racer links it to the most famous pony car in the world; it'll hit the track next year

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It’s probably (definitively) no coincidence that Ford has chosen to announce its 2019 Mustang NASCAR racer in the week of its 10 millionth Mustang celebrations. Set to take to the track next year in the top tier NASCAR Cup series, the new competition model will replace the existing Ford Fusion racer, which bows out after 12 years on track.

Regulations dictate that the new ‘stang will be a silhouette racer like its rivals from Chevrolet and Toyota, so beneath the new skin will be the same spaceframe chassis as the ZL1 and Camry it’ll compete against in 2019. Ford’s engine will also be built in 5.8-litre pushrod V8 form, as per series regulations, and produce close to 900 American horses.

Ford would have you believe that the ‘stang’s NASCAR Cup series debut is one designed purely to boost the pony car’s profile. And while that may be accurate, there’s no doubt that a key motivation for the switch will have also been the deletion of the road going Fusion – America’s version of the Mondeo – from Ford’s US line-up in 2020.

Thankfully the 'stang is facing no such fate, so when Ford's next racer takes to the track in 2019, it’ll be the first to wear a Mustang face. Ford, a brand that’s raced in NACAR's top series without pause since 1978, has never fielded a ‘stang in the top class. (Although it has raced one in the second tier category with plenty of success, winning both driver’s and manufacturers titles.)

Ford Performance Motorsports boss Mark Rushbrook is aiming high with his new car, stating that he “can’t wait to see it winning races in the NASCAR Cup Series next year”. Ford could stand its best chance for a long time in 2019 because the championship will introduce a raft of changes, including a new aero package, that should make for closer races.

Let's hope to see Mustangs in the thick of it from the off. Yee-haw!

[Kawasicki]

Doesn’t really look like a mustang, the proportions are way off.

[chappardababbar]

Wow, how cool is that

[croyde]

Looks like a Fusion/Mondeo.

[mike150]

Nascar regulations state that all cars have to follow a body template so they all have equal aerodynamic efficiency ............……...........all the cars look much the same because they pretty much are.

[Maldini35]

unsprung said:

Kawasicki said:

Doesn’t really look like a mustang, the proportions are way off.

PH article said:

Regulations dictate that the new ‘stang will be a silhouette racer like its rivals from Chevrolet and Toyota, so beneath the new skin will be the same spaceframe chassis as the ZL1 and Camry it’ll compete against

So where’s the Mustang bit in all this? Just the engine?
God I hope F1 doesn’t go down this route.

[anonymous-user]

croyde said:

Looks like a Fusion/Mondeo.

That's because NASCAR is a spec series so it's fundamentally the same car as the current Fusion with a bit of restyling at the front to give it a hint of "Mustang" appearance. The same thing was done for Chevrolet which this year has been racing "Camaro" in the Cup series. All the cars used to be 100% identical with a body painted on but in recent years NASCAR has allowed the manufacturers to have some individual body shape, albeit with the overall aerodynamic balance supposedly kept equal between the Ford, Chevrolet and Toyota. However, because the circuits in the series differ so widely one car shape may end up more effective in the quicker circuits and and another car shape on the slower ones. However, since it's impossible to win the series without being quick on 1.5 mile ovals that's where equalisation matters most.

"Mustangs" and "Camaros" have been racing in the second division Xfinity series for some years.

[FourWheelDrift]

Maldini35 said:

So where’s the Mustang bit in all this? Just the engine?
God I hope F1 doesn’t go down this route.

You don't get these engines in Mustangs - https://roushyates.com/engines/ford-fr9-efi/

I'd say nothing but the name is related to a Mustang.

[GroundEffect]

Maldini35 said:

unsprung said:

Kawasicki said:

Doesn’t really look like a mustang, the proportions are way off.

PH article said:

Regulations dictate that the new ‘stang will be a silhouette racer like its rivals from Chevrolet and Toyota, so beneath the new skin will be the same spaceframe chassis as the ZL1 and Camry it’ll compete against

So where’s the Mustang bit in all this? Just the engine?
God I hope F1 doesn’t go down this route.

Nothing. They're fully silhouette racers w/ amazing engines.

[jnoiles]

• yawn*

[LuS1fer]

Ooh look, a racing car with absolutely no relevance to a Ford Mustang wearing a Mustang mask.

They could just as well fit a Mustang front to a F1 car and be as relevant.

I appreciate that much the same can be said about BTCC cars etc... which also don't interest me.

[B'stard Child]

LuS1fer said:

Ooh look, a racing car with absolutely no relevance to a Ford Mustang wearing a Mustang mask.

They could just as well fit a Mustang front to a F1 car and be as relevant.

I appreciate that much the same can be said about BTCC cars etc... which also don't interest me.

Why didn't you throw in the usual "only turns left" stereotyping with that - I think you missed an opportunity

It's fantastic racing with more overtaking in one race than in a season of F1 - it's not dominated by the top 3 teams and driver ability and car set up (by the driver and team) as well as strategy can have a huge impact results wise.

The only bit I don't like is the races have been split into 3 races in one which breaks it up too much for me compared to the previous format

[unsprung]

Tiff Needell and Jonny Smith went behind the scenes at NASCAR

video here:
https://youtu.be/rdDuZN4IPaw?t=25m33s

"A massive grid of forty-three cars race bumper to bumper at an average speed approaching 200 miles an hour. The lead will change hands several times during a lap."

[Sandpit Steve]

Maldini35 said:

unsprung said:

Kawasicki said:

Doesn’t really look like a mustang, the proportions are way off.

PH article said:

Regulations dictate that the new ‘stang will be a silhouette racer like its rivals from Chevrolet and Toyota, so beneath the new skin will be the same spaceframe chassis as the ZL1 and Camry it’ll compete against

So where’s the Mustang bit in all this? Just the engine?
God I hope F1 doesn’t go down this route.

The headlights look a bit Mustangsy, but that’s about it. The rest is just branding, the cars are all pretty much the same underneath and the engines are restricted so all produce the same power. Rather like F2 or FE cars.

[Mr Tidy]

Sandpit Steve said:

The headlights look a bit Mustangsy, but that’s about it. The rest is just branding, the cars are all pretty much the same underneath and the engines are restricted so all produce the same power. Rather like F2 or FE cars.

Maybe, but a front that looks a bit like a Mustang surely has to be better than one that looks like a Fusion!

And while they may all be pretty similar underneath (like BTCC, F2 & FE), at least they use a petrol V8 that produces some serious grunt and noise - unlike any of those other series!

I was lucky enough to go to the Daytona 500 back in 1992 and it was fantastic - walking down by the fence as a train of cars comes by draughting flat-out at 180 MPH+ has to be one of my best petrolhead experiences!

[KrazyIvan]

unsprung said:

The lead will change hands several times during a lap."

Having watched a good few races over the years, the above is just not true. Yes the lead might change a number of times, over the whole race, but then at 500 miles or so on an oval you'd expect it to, but on a lap by lap basis, once or twice at most and even than it will swap about for a number of laps between the same few cars.

As for the Mustang, think it looks pretty good for a car that simply cannot share a single component with its road going name sake.

[unsprung]

KrazyIvan said:

unsprung said:

The lead will change hands several times during a lap."

Having watched a good few races over the years, the above is just not true. Yes the lead might change a number of times, over the whole race, but then at 500 miles or so on an oval you'd expect it to, but on a lap by lap basis, once or twice at most and even than it will swap about for a number of laps between the same few cars.

As for the Mustang, think it looks pretty good for a car that simply cannot share a single component with its road going name sake.

[KrazyIvan]

unsprung said:

KrazyIvan said:

unsprung said:

The lead will change hands several times during a lap."

Having watched a good few races over the years, the above is just not true. Yes the lead might change a number of times, over the whole race, but then at 500 miles or so on an oval you'd expect it to, but on a lap by lap basis, once or twice at most and even than it will swap about for a number of laps between the same few cars.

As for the Mustang, think it looks pretty good for a car that simply cannot share a single component with its road going name sake.