MELBOURNE, Australia – The 2019 Ford Mustang Supercar has been unveiled ahead of the 2019 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. In full official Ford Performance livery, the 2019 Mustang Supercar shows off the road-going Ford Mustang GT’s iconic design cues and rampant V8 soundtrack ahead of its inaugural race, the Superloop Adelaide 500.

“This is an historic moment,” said Kay Hart, President and CEO of Ford Australia and New Zealand. “To see the project come together has been incredibly exciting for everyone involved, and today marks the start of Mustang’s 2019 season. Mustang belongs on the track and everyone at Ford and our fans have been waiting for this moment.”

Ford and Ford Performance, alongside partners from Shell V-Power Racing and Tickford Racing, have designed, engineered and homologated Mustang for the 2019 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. The Mustang was officially approved by Supercars for racing in December, however the final look of the iconic Fastback has been heavily camouflaged until today’s reveal.

“For Supercars, the Mustang ushers in a new era,” said Supercars CEO, Sean Seamer. “It’s a product that you see readily on the road, it’s been super successful for Ford globally and here in Australia, and it gives the opportunity to reach younger and older generations with a fantastic looking race car.”

Six Mustangs will enter the 2019 series, from three teams, with two Mustangs for Shell VPower Racing, three Tickford Racing Mustangs and an additional Mustang for 23Red Racing.

“Today is when we show the fans what the Mustang Supercar really looks like, ready for the 2019 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship,” said Shell V-Power Racing Team Principal, Ryan Story. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Ford Australia, the Ford Asia Pacific Design studio, and the pivotal involvement of Ford Performance in the United States.”

Ford Performance has worked with Ford, Shell V-Power Racing and Tickford Racing in getting the Mustang on the 2019 grid. Ford Performance has also helped deliver Mustang in NASCAR, NHRA as well as the Mustang GT4 that was showcased alongside the Ford GT IMSA at the 2018 Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

“I’m really proud of the team in North America, and I’m really proud of the team down in Australia,” said Ford Performance Motorsports Supervisor, Brian Novak. “We use the same processes to develop the Supercar that we do the NASCAR Mustang, that we do the Mustang GT4, that we do the NHRA Funny Car Mustang. That development has been proven out through other programs – the Ford GT at Le Mans for example – and we then transfer that back, that knowledge, back to the road car.”

2018 Supercars Champion Scott McLaughlin will head the charge for Shell V-Power Racing, looking to build on a successful 2018 campaign.

“Heading to Adelaide as Supercars Champion is pretty cool, and being able to defend my title in the new Ford Mustang as it returns to touring car racing in Australia is very exciting for me, for the team, and everyone involved. I think we’ve got a weapon on our hands,” said McLaughlin.

Driving the number 17 Shell V-Power Racing Mustang for 2019, McLaughlin will follow in the footsteps of the legendary Dick Johnson, himself a five-time Australian Touring Car Champion and who drove a Mustang in the sport in the 1980s. “In my eyes, the new Mustang is one of the best Supercars we’ve ever seen,” said Johnson. “It’s a great honour, from my point of view, that Scotty has decided to run the number 17. He could have chosen the number one, but he chose 17, and that makes me very proud.”

Tickford Racing will also field three Mustangs for drivers Chaz Mostert, Cameron Waters and new team member, Lee Holdsworth. It’s Mostert, though, who will carry his now traditional 55 race number into 2019 for what’s a special time for Mustang.

“My race number for the last couple of years has been 55, and it’s also the 55th anniversary of the Mustang, so yes, super pumped to have that number on our race car for the year,” said Mostert. “It’s good to see the Ford support back in the series, and I can’t wait to see the fans get out there. I’m absolutely pumped to get to Adelaide see how the car goes there”

Tickford Racing Team Manager, Tim Edwards, says that Mustang’s arrival has been building up to what will be a classic 2019 season. “The fan reaction to Mustang going onto the racetrack has just been phenomenal. It far exceeded our expectations – it’s been great for the sport. To come back with the Mustang, it’s just been outstanding to see the reaction from the public.”

Alongside the Shell V-Power and Tickford Racing Mustangs will be the 23Red Racing Mustang driven by Will Davison. “As a Ford fan, it’s impossible not to get excited about Mustang: to picture six of them racing, on the grid in Adelaide – not too long now – picturing one in the mirror with the way that car looks, is going to be really different. I think it’s super cool that we have a two-door car on the Supercars grid,” said Davison.

That sentiment is echoed by 23Red Racing’s Team Principal, Phil Munday. “Looking at the car, if that thing goes as fast as it looks, I think we’ll be there, I honestly think that the aero, the changes, the new look of the car – and it’s a car you can go and buy, which is fabulous,” said Munday. “Ford fans really need to come out and have a look at this car in Adelaide on its first debut round, and they won’t be disappointed. It’ll be fabulous.”

The Ford Performance Mustang will make its on-track debut at the Superloop Adelaide 500 between February 28 and March 1, 2019.