What happened to Ford Performance Racing?
Ford Performance Racing no longer exists under that name. After Ford scaled back its factory support, the team was rebranded first as Prodrive Racing Australia and later as Tickford Racing, and it continues to compete in the Supercars Championship under the Tickford banner.
Ford Performance Racing (FPR) was the factory-backed Australian team created to campaign Ford Falcons in the V8 Supercars Championship. Over its life it became one of the sport's most recognizable outfits, winning races and contending for championships. In the mid-2010s, Ford reduced official factory involvement in Australia. The squad restructured as Prodrive Racing Australia (PRA) in 2016 under the Prodrive umbrella, and in 2020 the team adopted the Tickford Racing name, aligning with Tickford Vehicle Engineering while maintaining Ford-aligned branding in its liveries.
Origins and evolution
The team was formed in the early 2000s to represent Ford in the Australian V8 Supercars series, drawing on Prodrive's motorsport experience and Ford's manufacturing backing. It built a reputation for fast cars and competitive crews, becoming a fixture in the championship for more than a decade.
Key milestones
The following timeline highlights the major changes in the team's branding and structure:
- Early 2000s: Establishment as Ford Performance Racing to compete in V8 Supercars with Ford Falcons.
- 2010s: Regular front-running performances, with wins and podiums contributing to Ford's presence in the series.
- Mid-2010s: Ford reduces formal factory support in Australia; the team continues as a privateer under the FPR banner for a period.
- 2016: Rebrands as Prodrive Racing Australia (PRA) as ownership and branding shift within the Prodrive framework.
- 2020: Rebrands again as Tickford Racing, aligning with Tickford Vehicle Engineering while maintaining Ford-aligned competition in the series.
The timeline shows how the operation evolved rather than disappeared, preserving Ford's sporting footprint in Australian touring car racing through branding changes and new ownership structures.
Current status and branding
Today, the team competes in the Supercars Championship as Tickford Racing, one of the series' leading outfits. While no factory works program exists under the Ford banner in Australia, Tickford Racing remains Ford-liveried and closely associated with the brand through sponsorship and technical partnerships.
Ownership and branding notes
The shift from Ford Performance Racing to Tickford Racing reflects changes in corporate strategy, sponsorship, and ownership rather than a sudden exit from the sport. The practice of maintaining Ford-based competition under a private team has continued to resonate in Australian touring car racing for years.
Summary
Ford Performance Racing evolved from a factory-backed team into a privately run outfit that underwent successive branding changes—first to Prodrive Racing Australia, then to Tickford Racing. The name Ford Performance Racing is no longer in use, but the team remains a prominent Ford-aligned entry in the Supercars Championship under the Tickford banner, preserving a legacy that dates back to the early days of Ford's involvement in Australian motorsport.
