Latest news with #AndrewBirkic
The Advertiser
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
2026 Ford Mustang Cup racing series set for Australia
Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from: Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. "Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market," said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. "This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under." Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. "The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers," said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. "Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. "The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem," he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang Content originally sourced from:
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
2026 Ford Mustang Cup racing series set for Australia
Ford has announced the Ford Mustang Cup will take place as a national series in Australia across six rounds in 2026 – a breeding ground for future talent – and is seeking expressions of interest from would-be competitors. Using the formidable Ford Mustang Dark Horse R racing model, a field of around 20-25 competitors is expected in the first expansion of the series beyond the United States, where it kicked off in 2024. 'Mustang holds a special place in the hearts of Australians, and a dedicated one-make series featuring the Dark Horse R is a natural and incredibly exciting fit for our market,' said Andrew Birkic, Ford Australia president and CEO, in a statement. 'This new championship provides a clear pathway for aspiring drivers and adds another thrilling dimension to the Mustang's legendary racing heritage down under.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Dark Horse R takes the Mustang Dark Horse road car a step further by adding 18-inch forged alloy wheels with slick racing tyres, bigger Brembo brakes and a larger exhaust from renowned specialist Borla. There's no additional power from the 5.0-litre V8 – making a claimed 'more than 500 horsepower (373kW)' – which is teamed with a Tremec 3160 six-speed manual gearbox and Torsen limited-slip differential. The Dark Horse R's race-readiness is capped off with a Recaro racing seat approved by the FIA – the governing body of global motorsport. Mustang Cup cars come to Australia through Miedecke Motorsport, Australian agents for Multimatic – the company behind the Dark Horse R as well as a host of Ford Performance models, including the 2016 Le Mans-winning Ford GT race and road cars. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The cost of a Mustang Cup Dark Horse R is, according to Ford Performance, $US159,000 ($242,700). The lower-spec 2024 Mustang Dark Horse with a manual gearbox is currently priced at $98,017 before on-road costs, with the automatic at $101,917 before on-roads. The Ford series is expected to cost less than the Porsche Carrera Cup, both a national and global one-make racing series using the Porsche 911 which is speculated at around $1 million per year to compete in. Showroom rival Toyota – which will compete against Ford in the Supercars championship with its Supra sports car from 2026 – also runs a national one-make series in Australia, the Gazoo Racing Cup (GR Cup). Supplied Credit: CarExpert It's also designed to develop young racing talent, with current Supercars championship leader, Broc Feeney, one of its star graduates, having won his first race in the Toyota series as a 15-year-old in 2018. The GR Cup uses the much-lauded Toyota GR86 sports car, with a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, but in the V8 Dark Horse R the Mustang Cup will offer a more powerful, faster race car closer to 'higher' series such as the Super 2 category, one step down from Supercars. 'The Mustang Dark Horse R was designed to be a turnkey race car to provide a thrilling, accessible, and competitive platform for drivers,' said the global director of Ford Performance, Mark Rushbrook, in a statement. 'Seeing it embraced by our team in Australia and set to form a new national championship is fantastic. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Rushbrook pointed to 20-year-old Australian racer, Cameron McLeod, who won two Mustang Dark Horse R races at the 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours earlier this month. The races were part of the US-based 2025 IMSA Ford Mustang Challenge. 'The success of Cameron McLeod at Le Mans showed the world what talented young drivers can do in this car and bringing that level of competition to Australia is a vital addition to the global Mustang racing ecosystem,' he said. The Ford Mustang ecosystem is extensive, with the US car giant offering customer racing versions of the iconic V8-powered sports car in multiple categories, including GT4, GT3 and Supercars racing in Australia. MORE: Everything Ford Mustang
News.com.au
17-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Ford's reveals Super Duty pricing
Ford has locked in heavy-duty prices for the 2025 Ford Ranger Super Duty, a heavy-duty variant of its best selling dual-cab ute. Prices start from $82,990 plus onroad costs for the Single Cab-Chassis variant, with the Super Cab-Chassis priced at $86,490, and the Double Cab-Chassis at $89,990 plus on-roads. Those figures will climb close to $100,000 once you add a tray and metallic paint. It's also one of the most capable Rangers, with a 4500kg Gross Vehicle Mass, a braked towing capacity of 4500kg, and a massive 8000kg Gross Combined Mass when towing. Despite the truck-like specs, this beast can be driven on a standard car license. Payload varies from 1982kg for Single-Cab Chassis, 1896kg for Super Cab-Chassis and 1825kg for the Double Cab-Chassis. Ford Australia President and chief executive Andrew Birkic said customers have been asking for a truck that can handle Australia's tough terrain and most extreme jobs. 'With its incredible towing, payload, and GCM capabilities, Ranger Super Duty is built to exceed those expectations. We're providing hardworking Australians the tools they need to succeed,' he said. Re-worked from the ground up, the Super Duty is a re-engineered chassis with upgraded axles, reinforced suspension, control arms, and a heavy-duty braking system. A 10-speed auto transmission is paired with Ford's 3.0-litre V6 turbo-diesel, carried over from the Ranger models, but with a new calibration to meet European heavy-duty emissions standards and the addition of AdBlue. Power is less than the V6 Ranger at 154kW (the V6 Ranger has 184kW), while torque is on par at 600Nm. Ford says the reduced power figure stems from the need to comply with stringent heavy-duty truck emissions standards, and that other V6 odels will not be detuned. Despite the lower power output, the Super Duty just outmuscles the Toyota LandCruiser 70 Series, whose V8 diesel makes just 151kW/500Nm and has a maximum towing capacity of 3500kg. The Ram 1500 is more powerful but offers less in terms of payload capacity (830kg-879kg pending model). Its ground clearance (299mm), track (1710mm) and water wading (850mm) is on par with rivals. However, Ford has added smart technology, unlike anything seen in current competitors. For instance, its Smart Hitch system which measures tow ball weight to optimise load distribution, reduces sway risk, while on-board digital scales help ensure payloads stay safe. The exterior design is tough with a stamped 'Super Duty' badge, a redesigned grille resembling floating brick pattern, geometric flared guards, heavy-duty steel bumpers and 33-inch General Gabber all-terrains with 8-stud wheels. That rugged feeling continues inside, with vinyl-trimmed interiors designed for durability, a dock for laptops or screens, and a practical layout for workers. Three Ford Licensed Accessory tray options are available - galvanised, matte black and body-coloured steel, ranging from $5,966 to $9,376 depending on configuration and finish. Body-coloured tray prices will vary depending on the paint colour. The price will climb when you select paint colour, all colours aside from Arctic White are considered prestige paint colours and will be available at an additional cost. New exterior colours include Seismic Tan, Shadow Black and Aluminium Metallic. A favourite, Traction Green, will be available later in 2026.
