Ford FG01 V8 Supercar Unveiled

In development for over 18 months FG01 was created to meet specific Ford design requirements in addition to fitting the Touring Car Entrants Group 'Blueprint specification'. "We are absolutely ecstatic with our new FG01, overall the car looks a much tougher package," said Ford Racing Manager, Ray Price. "Aside from the obvious lines and aesthetics that we've inherited from the FG Falcon XR8, the adjustments to create a unique and functional V8 Supercar have come together into one extremely well rounded vehicle which we are very pleased with. "The 'Nitro' blue colour is distinctly 'Ford' and our Blue Oval dedicated livery - which was created especially for the FG01 prototype by a Ford employee in our design studio - is in line with our ongoing commitment to V8 Supercars. "Developing FG01 was an intricate process and the design and build centred around meeting TEGA specifications alongside the goals of Ford and its major V8 Supercar teams, which were mainly related to cost reduction, reparability and safety."

TEGA specifications control all dimensional aspects related to V8 Supercar length, width, height, weight, wheelbase, wheel track, suspension mounting points, front bumper and rear wing positions, plus a number of secondary mounting point positions. The FG01 build involved a number of complex processes including the floor, cage, internal structural panels and external finish panels. A major design consideration was to ensure that the maximum amount of BF mechanical components could carry over into the new FG chassis to assist with cost control and minimise redundant parts. The cage and floor are assembled together in a master jig which provides dimensional points for the body to be built. This method gives structural integrity without relying on exterior panels for safety which allows for quicker and more cost effective crash repairs. One significant safety related improvement involved moving the driver seat as far inboard as possible, creating a noticeable gap between the seat and driver door.

This adjustment required using part of the transmission tunnel for the driver's seat and seat belt mounting points, and required the steering column and pedal box to be moved further inboard to accommodate the new driver position. FG01 features a strengthened roll cage at the driver's door area to minimise any side impact intrusion which combined with the shift in seat position provides an optimum level of driver safety. "Ford teams agreed that as a priority this V8 Supercar had to be less expensive to build as a new shell, and less expensive plus quicker to repair in the event of an accident," said Ray Price.