Ford Mustang shows good form at Gold Coast

Ford's New Mustang Aero Package: A Glimmer of Hope or Just a Flash in the Pan?

Ford drivers are showing a cautious optimism with the unveiling of the new Mustang aerodynamic package, especially after Cam Waters' victory in the opening Supercars race of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500. This win marked the third for Ford in 2023, with Waters being responsible for two.

However, the wins have not been without controversy. The first victory in Newcastle saw two Triple Eight Race Engineering entries disqualified, leading to Waters’ win. Furthermore, there was doubt over the win in the NTI Townsville 500, where Anton De Pasquale from Dick Johnson Racing had an extra set of tires than most of his competitors.

Waters' win in the Gold Coast 500 was widely accepted, and it came after the recent changes in the Mustang’s aerodynamics. The new aerodynamic tweaks were introduced after concerns of car parity surfaced post-Bathurst.

David Reynolds, finishing third, pointed out the race track's nature at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, suggesting it wasn’t ideal for aerodynamics but noted an improvement in tire life. Waters seconded this observation but emphasized that not all parity issues have been resolved.

Waters commented, “Our race car is the best we’ve had all year. We've shifted the aero balance rearward, similar to the Camaro, and this has undoubtedly benefited our tire life. However, there are still areas that need attention. The off-season will be crucial for Supercars to get it right.”

Matt Payne, Reynolds' teammate, questioned the effectiveness of the new aero. Payne stated, “This track might be too slow for us to feel any real effects. We’d probably need a high-speed track with faster corners to assess its impact.”

The off-season will indeed be a crucial period for the sport. Plans include wind tunnel testing for the Camaro and Mustang in the US and implementing torque sensors and transient dyno testing, primarily to address engine disparities.

Yet, despite these developments, Waters referred to 2023 as a "wasted" year, expressing disappointment over the car’s performance and the perceived lack of parity.

Reynolds is slated to switch to a Camaro next year, while Waters is likely to stay with Tickford, though official confirmation is pending. As the season progresses and teams adjust to the new aerodynamic package, only time will tell if these changes prove beneficial for Ford and its drivers.