Just like the Bathurst 500s of the old days, production car racing returns to the Mountain this weekend and it heralds the end of a historic nameplate.
It appears the Falcon body style will make its last hurrah for the latest generation in the form of Aaron McGill’s Ranger FPV GT-F.
Raced competitively in the last few Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hours, it has not experienced the greatest run of luck after as the Ford Mustang took over as the hero car for the Blue Oval brigade.
However, this year it celebrates being the last genuine, factory GT to race at the Mountain and fittingly John Bowe will return to partner McGill in a model close to his heart. Of course, Bowe tasted Bathurst 1000 success in 1994 with Falcon and championship success a year later during a successful stint at Dick Johnson Racing.
Although outright victory is out of reach for the Ranger FPV GT-F, but a class win is possible as although long-time rival Holden is all but closed the rivalry continues to live on at the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour.
HSV’s Clubsport R8 will prove an able adversary alongside some of the lower specification from Munich’s best, BMW.
FPV’s GT-F is one of the greatest and last muscle cars this country produced, featuring a 351kw supercharged Miami V8 in addition to improved handling.
Some road testers didn’t like the aged appearance of the GT-F due to the six-year-old FG design, but loved the handling and engine of the last run. It will be an emotional day on Sunday when the GT-F fires up for the first time ahead of 6 Hour as although the Falcon will be around in other categories such as historics, it will be its last appearance in one of Bathurst’s top events.
“There is something pure about production cars at Mt Panorama and history leaves us all with mental pictures that remain with us forever, with many of us the Ford Falcon GT sits atop this mountain of memories,” said McGill.
“It is significant that at this year’s 6 Hour production car race, the Falcon GT that I am sharing with John Bowe – a genuine FG GT-F – will be the very last genuine factory GT to commence a national endurance event for production cars at Mt Panorama.
“It is no coincidence #33 is on the doors, honouring the great Allan Moffat OBE and his gallant effort of 1974. It is fitting that a driver, a true racer in John Bowe will steer the GT for this closing chapter, one of which he has been instrumental and one that I am honoured to be a part of.
“Outright victory is well beyond this machine, time has moved on and more powerful, lighter cars will fight for that title. To win our class would be an amazing achievement for 3 years of toil.
“However, the blood line is authentic, a GT Falcon is a GT Falcon and this one, this last GT will belt out it’s V8 tune up, across and down the mountain one last time.”