View Brian Wolfe FORD
Brian Wolfe: FORD
5-31-09 Wind Tunnel
Category:Auto Racing
Brian’s title is Ford Director of North America Motorsports.
BRIAN WOLFE GUEST APPEARANCE ON WIND TUNNEL
Notes/Issues
Ford has made a conscious effort to utilize its key drivers in NASCAR and NHRA as marketers for its production-based products, including launch programs for new vehicles such as the 2010 Fusion and Fusion Hybrid, F-150 Raptor SVT, and 2010 Mustang.
Ford has a variety of new products coming out later this year such as the 2010 Taurus SHO, 2010 Raptor pick-up truck, 2010 Ford Mustang, 2010 Ford Transit Connect and 2010 Harley Davidson F-150. Another vehicle scheduled to hit showrooms early next year is Ford’s first European car for the U.S. market - the Fiesta, which is setting sales records overseas.
JD Power research has shown that 56 percent of the Ford owner base classifies themselves as race fans, and purchase consideration for Ford products among race fans is 100 percent higher than the general population.
Despite losing money the first quarter of 2009, there is still some positive news as Ford has gained retail market share in six of the last seven months.
Ford is in a different position than General Motors and Chrysler since the company has not asked for, nor accepted, any federal government loans. That has allowed the company to operate independently and stay on track with its turnaround plan, which includes funding for a competitive motorsports program.
While NASCAR and NHRA gain most of the attention, Ford also has a major presence on a grassroots level. As a former drag racer himself, Brian has emphasized Ford products to those weekend racers who compete in late model events at their local short tracks, and spearheaded development of new projects such as the Cobra Jet Mustang for NHRA, and is working to increase Ford’s presence in short track oval racing.
Brian has constant communication with Jim Farley and Edsel Ford about the racing program—what its role is within Ford Motor Company and how racing can help sell cars. After all, that’s why we race.
Ford may be the only car company that actually was started because of racing. Henry Ford’s upset victory over Alexander Winton in 1901, helped him attract the investors to start Ford Motor Company in June, 1903. That was Henry’s one and only race – Ford has always hired professionals ever since.
We’ve scaled back our financial support in Trucks and Nationwide, but still offer technical and contingency support to our teams in both those series. Focusing on remaining competitive in Cup.
- NHRA (yes...just with John Force Racing or are they other teams you help support?)
We also help with Bob Tasca III (Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang) and Tim Wilkerson (Mustang) in Funny Car, and have an increased techical (not financial) investment in the NHRA Pro Stock Division and are working with driver Erica Enders and her Cunningham team on a new engine and 2010 Mustang body package that will be available to others. Larry Morgan also just announced he will switch to Mustang for 2010.
In addition, the 2009 Cobra Jet Mustang has already made an impact on the NHRA circuit, winning its debut at the 2009 NHRA Winternationals with driver John Calvert in the AA Stock Eliminator Class.
Cobra Jet is a sportsman drag race car - also known at Mustang FR500CJ - which is the latest of the FR500 race cars sold through Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog. It joins Mustang FR500C (KONI Challenge) and Mustang FR500S (Mustang Challenge series) as turn-key race cars consumers can buy. Ford and Porsche are the only two manufacturers building and selling race cars this way.
- Rolex Series? (we see several Ford powered entries...do you have much to do with this?)
Our Rolex Series cars are powered by Ford engines out of the Roush-Yates engine shop. KONI Challenge Mustangs also get engines through there. We are helping those teams with technical chassis support, wind tunnel, engine development, etc. Not financial support, but as much tech support as they need.
- Off-road?
We are working on the new F-Series SVT Raptor in off-road right now. The Raptor made its debut and finished the Baja 1,000 last November, and has run selected races this year. This truly is an engineering development project to prepare for the launch of the SVT Raptor production model later this summer. Greg Biffle test drove the vehicle and gave engineering input before the NASCAR
(Global)
- World Rally
Ford does this have factory Focus RS team in World Rally ... M-Sport is the team, and they just won the most recent event in Italy. Very competitive program.
New news: Fiesta (coming to the U.S. as production car in 2010) will be the new Rally car worldwide going forward next year. Also, a Swedish team - Motor Sport Evolution - is bringing two Fiesta Rallycross cars to Pike’s Peak this summer to try to break the 10-minute barrier in the Unlimited class. http://media.ford.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=30429
- Touring Cars?
Various touring car programs going on around the world, including the V8 cars in Australia.
- what else does Ford race?
Grand-Am KONI Challenge - Mustang FR500C taking on BMW, Porsche, etc. Mustang is defending champion and currently leading the 2009 championship
Mustang Challenge Series for the Miller Cup - Mustang FR500S spec series in second year. Averaging about 20 cars per grid… good starter series done in conjunction with Miller Motorsports Park in Utah.
USAC National Midgets - Bobby East and Alison MacLeod running for Bob East - Ford power/development program