Red-hot Mustangs put Ford on track for best start in years

Ford is off to a flying start in 2025, winning six of the first nine courtesy of sweeps in Sydney and Taupō.

Cam Waters, Matt Payne and Chaz Mostert have taken the Blue Oval to its best start of the Gen3 era, and most wins through nine races since the all-conquering Mustang crushed the field in 2019.

Since the beginning of the V8 Supercar era in 1997, the 2019 season remains a standout for Ford, which won 16 of the first 17 races amid a sparkling run of form for Scott McLaughlin.

The 11-of-12 in 2019 remains Ford's best start since 1997, followed by 2009, when Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes led the new FG Falcon to 10 in 12.

Should Fords complete a third sweep in four rounds at the upcoming round in Tasmania, it would draw level with the nine-in-12 start to 2012, when Ford Performance Racing got off to a flying start.

However, it's also worth pointing out that dominant starts don't always convert to championships.

While McLaughlin and Whincup won in 2019 and 2009 respectively, the title fell to Whincup in 2012 once Triple Eight had moved to Holden.

Ford also won eight of the first 12 in 2003, 2008 and 2017, with the latter ending in another triumph for Whincup, Triple Eight and Holden despite McLaughlin's best efforts.

The start to the 2025 season has been one to remember for Ford fans, despite Chevrolet drivers locking out all three podiums at the Grand Prix in Melbourne.

There have been plenty of tough starts too; notably, Holdens won the first 12 races in 1999 amid the Holden Racing Team's dominance, while the new VE Commodore won 14 of the first 15 races in 2007.

In 2013, Ford claimed a single win in the first 13 races, while Fords won just two of 29 races in 2016. In recent years, Fords won a combined four races across the start of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Cam Waters (second), Matt Payne (third), Chaz Mostert (fifth) and Brodie Kostecki (sixth) are Ford's best placed drivers in the championship heading to Tasmania, with Triple Eight duo Will Brown and Broc Feeney first and fourth.

Track action at Symmons Plains commences on Friday May 9.

Most Ford race wins after 12 races (1997-)

Ford on six wins through nine races in 2025