Ford deal reopens Bathurst door for Aussie star

Australian sportscar ace Matt Campbell could become a prized Supercars endurance co-driver following his new deal with Ford.

Confirmed over the weekend, long-time Porsche factory driver Campbell has joined Ford and its new Hypercar program.

The Queenslander is a two-time winner of the Bathurst 12 Hour, all with Porsche, and has made four Bathurst 1000 starts.

Campbell’s last Great Race start, however, came back in 2022, when he was taken out in a shocking crash at The Chase.

The 2027 World Endurance Championship calendar was also revealed at the weekend, and is set to avoid a clash with Bathurst, keeping the door ajar for a Campbell return.

Ford’s top two Supercars teams, Triple Eight Race Engineering and Grove Racing, have their current co-drivers locked down to the end of 2027.

Campbell raced for Triple Eight in 2017 alongside Shane van Gisbergen, and with the Grove team in 2021 and 2022.

“I’m extremely excited and proud to be joining Ford Racing for their new Hypercar program,” said Campbell, who was announced at Ford alongside Tom Blomqvist and Nick Yelloly.

“Ford has a longstanding history of success in top levels of motorsport and at Le Mans, which is something I am also chasing, and I believe Ford is the right place to achieve that goal together.

“We have a lot of laps to turn later this year, but the work has already started and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

Ex-Formula 1 driver Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx complete Ford’s WEC 2027 line-up.