09/09/2026
FORD LAUNCH NEW T8 TWEAKED MUSTANG FOR AUSSIE MARKET
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Ford Australia and Triple Eight Race Engineering have worked together on the development of the Mustang Dark Horse T8 Spec package, with Triple Eight involved from initial testing through to final vehicle sign-off.
The package centres on the relationship between tyres, suspension and steering, with Pirelli semi-slick, track-biased tyres combined with revised springs, roll bar, suspension and steering calibration.
Ford Special Vehicles Engineering’s James Holloway says the involvement of Triple Eight was intended to go beyond the application of its name to the car.
“This wasn't a branding exercise,” Holloway said. “This was Jamie Whincup and Mark Dutton sitting in meetings with us, giving their views on what this could be and what it shouldn't be.”
Triple Eight co-owner and seven-time Supercars Champion Jamie Whincup describes the company as “an engineering business that goes racing”. The team has spent 20 years competing in Supercars and has developed extensive experience in vehicle setup and tyre behaviour.
“We've worked out what the key elements are to make a car handle well and be balanced overall,” Whincup said.
That experience was applied to a Mustang Dark Horse supplied by Ford Australia for development work. According to Tom Dohrmann, Supervisor, Special Vehicles Engineering at Ford Australia, Whincup also provided feedback on the car during testing.
“Jamie had a Mustang Dark Horse up in Queensland and provided some very helpful feedback on where the vehicle needed to be to go to the next level,” Dohrmann said.
Tyres were a major focus of the development.
“At the end of the day, the tyre is the only thing that touches the ground,” Whincup said. “You can have the best car and the best driver, but if you've got the wrong tyres, it's not going to be quick.”
The Pirelli tyres form the basis of the package, with changes made to the springs, roll bar, suspension and steering to work with them.
“The Pirellis are basically a semi-slick, track-biased tyre,” Dohrmann said. “Around that, we've made changes to the springs, the roll bar, the ride suspension and the steering rack. It's a whole package that comes together for a big uplift in handling performance.”
Testing has taken place in Queensland, while Ford’s engineering team has continued development at its You Yangs Proving Ground near Geelong.
Triple Eight engineers are also working with Ford in Melbourne as the final steering and handling calibration is completed.
“Their team will also be down here in Melbourne at the Proving Ground,” Dohrmann said, “helping our guys finish off the steering and handling calibration and sign the vehicle off in the next couple of months.”
Whincup says the project is significant for Triple Eight, particularly given the company’s relationship with Ford and the development of the T8 Spec Mustang.
“To me personally, it was a huge moment when we announced the partnership between ourselves and Ford,” he said. “In particular, that we're building a Mustang Dark Horse T8 Spec.”
Dohrmann says the objective throughout development was to ensure the package offered changes that had a functional purpose rather than simply adding T8 branding.
“We didn't want to be cynical or seem to be offering up something like a sticker pack,” he said. “There had to be real content in the vehicle that meant something to people who know about cars. That's what really drove our decisions.”
The Mustang Dark Horse T8 Spec package will be limited to 250 vehicles, combining the Dark Horse platform with the tyre, suspension and steering changes developed by Ford Australia and Triple Eight.
Ford Media Release.
