16 Aug EX MORCOM/MOSTERT FOCUS TO MAKE APC RETURN AT PHILLIP ISLAND
The Ford Focus RS which Nathan Morcom and Supercars star Chaz Mostert took to 2nd outright in the 2017 Bathurst 6 Hour and third in the 2017 APC title is set to make its return to the series next weekend at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.
David Brown purchased the car in 2023 and will steer the successful racing machine alongside long time friend, Ash Wright, at round four of the 2024 Meguiar’s Australian Production Cars season, taking place at the Island as part of the SRO Motorsports’ GT Festival across August 23-25.
Four one-hour races will be held for the category across the weekend, with the action to be broadcast live on Speedcafe.TV as well as GT World’s YouTube channel, and will also be streamed on the Meguiar’s APC socials.
“The Focus was built in Sydney in 2016 for the 2017 Bathurst 6 Hour, almost winning the event with Nathan Morcom and Chaz Mostert driving, only to be passed for the lead on the last lap due to gearbox issues,” Brown explains.
“The car also held the outright lap record for the event until this year.
“We purchased the car in 2023 and it was completely rebuilt across the end of that year and into early 2024, to make it compliant with current production car rules after earlier development works undertaken on it for the 2018 Six Hour left it unreliable.
“Following the 2024 Bathurst Six Hour, where Ash and I teamed up with John Bowe, it underwent another rebuild with a new engine with a big focus on cooling and reliability – while we didn’t get the result we wanted at that event, it was still successful in my eyes, with JB and I teaming up to raise awareness of prostate cancer, a cause we continue to champion.”
An engineer and director of motorsport and specialist fabrication company Brown Davi\s Motorsport, the 69-year-old Brown holds three outright Historic Touring Car Championships, as well as multiple class championships. He was also a successful rally driver between 1976 and 2012 and acted as long-time pit crew and as an occasional driver for the Ford Estcourt RS2000 Touring Car Team in the seventies. More recently, he took the outright win in the Mt Tarrangower Hill Climb in 2023 and has been part of the Clemente TCR outfit for the past four years.
“This will be our first time competing in the Australian Production Cars,” Brown explained.
“Production cars are modern versions of the Historic Touring Cars I have raced for many years, and I like the different classes and are proud to be running the only Ford Focus RS in the category currently, as we wanted to bring something different.
“While it is my first time in the category, I know Phillip Island very well and I think our AWD should be well suited to the fast and flowing track; and will be a big advantage if it rains!
“We are certainly enjoying the challenge of developing the car and we feel that we will have a good tilt at the class victory next weekend.”
Wright is no slouch behind the wheel either, with the former Ironman competitor having claimed National and State championships in Go Karts and raced internationally, and also achieving numerous State wins in Excels and Improved Production Car Racing.
“Dave and I have been great mates for 20-odd years, and I have helped him to win multiple state titles in his little Datsun and he has helped me also, so I am really looking forward to this new challenge,” said the “50-ish” National Construction Director from Melbourne.
As they get ready for their Meguiar’s APC debut, Brown and Wright are keen to thank those who have supported their efforts so far.
“The team are an extraordinary bunch of dedicated people with a huge blend of talent across all areas we need to run, just like a fully professional race team,” Wright said.
“David Burn our team engineer brings huge modern vehicle design knowledge and unbelievable chassis tune experience.
“We also must thank our valued sponsors: Brown Davis Motorsport, Wurth, Apex Steel, Raceline, Brakes and More, Grant Walker Parts, Mountune, and Check It Out Graphics.
“And I should also thank my wife!” Wright grinned.
Round four of the 2024 Meguiar’s Australian Production Cars season will be held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit across August 23-25. Entries for this event are now closed but remain open for rounds five and six. To learn more about Meguiar’s APC, visit www.ausprodcars.com.au or email admin@ausprodcars.com.au
2024 MEGUIAR’S AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION CARS CHAMPIONSHIP DATES:
- Round 1 – Sandown Raceway – February 9-11, 2024 – Four 30-minute races
- Round 2 – The Bend – May 31-June 2 – Four 1 hour races
- Round 3 – Queensland Raceway – July 12-13 – Three hour Fight in the Night enduro
- Round 4 – Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit – August 23-25 – four 1 hour races
- Round 5 – Sydney Motorsport Park – 18-20 October – Four 1 hour races
- Round 6 – Bathurst International – 8-10 November – Four 30-minute races