The Ford Mustang runners put on a determined performance at the Melbourne Supercars round, held as part of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix. Despite the challenges of a demanding circuit, Cam Waters delivered a standout drive, passing more than two dozen cars over two days. Meanwhile, Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison each secured a fourth-place finish as the Mustangs fought hard across four intense qualifying sessions and three sprint races.
The final race of the weekend, set for Sunday morning, was cancelled due to heavy rain. This was a disappointing outcome for Waters and Matt Payne, who had secured their best starting positions of the event and were poised for a strong result.
Consistent Results But No Podiums
While the Mustangs remained competitive, they struggled to match the front-runners in qualifying. The lack of one-lap pace proved costly at Albert Park, contrasting sharply with the dominant performance in Sydney, where Waters secured a clean sweep of victories.
Still, the Mustang drivers secured solid finishes, with Waters holding onto second place in the championship after the first two rounds. Four other Mustang drivers remain inside the top ten, highlighting a consistent, if unspectacular, start to the season.
Top Ford Race Results
Race 1
• Brodie Kostecki – 4th
• Ryan Wood – 5th
• Cam Waters – 6th
Race 2
• Cam Waters – 6th
• Brodie Kostecki – 7th
• Chaz Mostert – 10th
Race 3
• Will Davison – 4th
• Brodie Kostecki – 5th
• Ryan Wood – 6th
Race 4
• Cancelled due to wet weather.
Team Bosses Reflect on the Weekend
Despite missing out on podiums, team owners and principals were largely positive about the Mustangs’ race pace and resilience.
Rod Nash (Tickford Racing):
“Cam Waters certainly passed more cars than anyone else this weekend. We don’t always need to look like rock stars. I’m happy for us to fly under the radar a bit, for the moment.
We don’t have the edge we want for qualifying, but we showed what we could do in the races. It was great to entertain the fans, and Cam bagged another bunch of points. Sunday was a non-event, but for the right reasons. We were strong at Taupo last year, so we’re ready to go again in New Zealand.”
Tim Blanchard (Blanchard Racing):
“We’ve taken a step forward this weekend, especially with James Courtney’s car. His crash on Thursday was unfortunate but just part of pushing hard.
Aaron Cameron’s full-time debut was a challenge, given the late call-up, but he kept the car clean and learned a lot. He’ll be fine moving forward.”
Carl Faux (Walkinshaw Andretti United):
“It was a weekend of two halves – frustrating in qualifying but strong in race pace. Chaz Mostert is still fourth in the points.
Ryan Wood was unlucky with a penalty that we felt was given for the outcome rather than the move itself.”
David Noble (Dick Johnson Racing):
“There’s a sense that our efforts are starting to come together. We got solid finishes with Brodie Kostecki and Will Davison.
The Albert Park round is always great for showcasing Supercars, and we made some incremental improvements. The drivers are adjusting to the new car philosophy, and we’re seeing progress.”
Stephen Grove (Grove Racing):
“We had good car pace, but some unfortunate incidents. Matt Payne was turned around in Race 3 after starting P3, which cost us.
Qualifying is key at this level, but we banked solid points. Matt’s strong at Taupo, so we’re optimistic heading into his home race.”
Looking Ahead to Taupo
The 2025 Supercars Championship now moves to the Taupo 400 in New Zealand from April 19-21. With stronger qualifying performance needed, the Mustangs will be looking to convert their race pace into podium finishes. Waters remains a serious title contender, and with multiple Ford drivers in the top ten, there’s plenty to build on as the season continues.
