Frosty: Ford needs another star

Mark Winterbottom is happy to have Marcos Ambrose return to V8 Supercars next year - and the current #1 Ford man hopes the former #1 Ford man can give him a hand to top the rest of the V8 Supercars field.

Winterbottom - who drove for Stone Brothers Racing in the development series when Ambrose was at his strongest - says there is "power in numbers" and spoke fondly of the Tasmanian's assistance when he was a young up and comer.

"I think it's good he's coming back. I'd love him to drive one of our cars as well, because if he can get it to the front it makes us look bad - but the way the cars are at the moment, it'd help if he could come back, help develop them and help get them to the front," Winterbottom told v8supercars.com.au.

"I'm sure he'll help drive development. He won't want to drive a car that's not capable of winning, so the more people you have pushing it the better it is.

"You're stronger in a pack than (as) a single, so I think it's a good thing."

Winterbottomwasn't threatened or concerned that there would be a head to head battle between the two to be the top Ford contender.

"It'd be good if he comes back - I've got no worry about that, I think it's good for the sport, good for Ford fans. He will hopefully strengthen the DJR side as well so that probably makes it two Ford teams, now there's the pressure of one so I think it's really good. Power in numbers."

Winterbottom dominated the Dunlop Series with SBR in his first season, and was grateful for the access to the two-time Champion.

"He (Ambrose) was good. He used to pop down - he was obviously trying to win his Championship, but if you asked him questions he was always open.

"He was good to work with, he was on top of his game and that team was as well. It was a pretty good situation. Always helpful and he was the best to learn off so pretty lucky to be in that position."

The two even caught up in the US in 2012, Winterbottom getting an insight into the NASCAR world and some advice on nabbing his first V8 Supercars Championship.

While, as others have said, Winterbottom is certain Ambrose - now 38 years old - will find V8 Supercars a big adjustment, 'Frosty' admired his hunger for a challenge.

"He'll find it massively different ... He could've quite easily done a Whincup and stayed in the best car with the best team at the time and just keep winning Championships, or he wanted to challenge his abilities and go overseas. So he proved quite clearly he enjoys a challenge.

"I'm sure he expects it to be tough, but he's in a position where he could retire and go away the king of Australia, but he's coming back to challenge it again and that's pretty respectable to see a guy do that. Because he could take the easy option or come back and prove a point - so I think it's good. I respect him massively."

Ford Performance Racing boss Tim Edwards, said his return didn't make a difference to the four car team, though details of the Team Penske DJR 'superteam' will be made more clear later this morning.

"Doesn't mean anything at all for us. DJR are a customer of ours and they have a contract for next year and they fully intend to continue with the engineer support they get from us," Edwards told v8supercars.com.au on Sunday, before the official Ambrose/Penske announcement yesterday.

"So if they happen to have some kind of ownership change, assuming it's still Dick Johnson Racing that engineering agreement carries into next year anyway."

Edwards was more flippant about the former star's return.

"Back then he was the number one Ford driver, although in his last year, he was beaten by Russell Ingall. So I think a bit of credit for Russell there! He did beat him in his last year, so let's not lose sight of that.

"For the people that are close to the sport I'm sure that's a good thing. For people who have been supporters of the category, for 10 years or more, he means something.

"For the broader Australian population, they won't know who he is.

"The motorsport fans, I'm sure they'll look forward to him coming back."

More to come on Ambrose's return and Team Penske's entry into the V8 Supercars Championship later today, with a teleconference scheduled for 11am AEST. Follow it live on v8supercars.com.au.