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1400hp Ford SuperVan 4.2 to make Australian debut at Bathurst 12 Hour

Australia’s iconic Mount Panorama circuit in Bathurst is about to witness one of the world’s wildest vans. Yep, Ford is planning to showcase its epic E-Transit SuperVan 4.2 at the 12-hour event next month.

Romain Dumas, renowned for conquering the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb in the USA, is set to pilot the all-electric marvel in a series of dynamic demonstrations during the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour race weekend. Mark Rushbrook, global director, Ford Performance Motorsports, said:

“Mount Panorama stands tall as the ultimate motorsport challenge in Australia, and we are excited to see SuperVan 4.2 attack its legendary twists and turns.”

The vehicle, equipped with 1400hp delivered to all four wheels, has already proven its mettle by finishing second outright and first-in-class at Pikes Peak, setting a new class record in the process.

While the SuperVan 4.2’s global tour has already showcased its capabilities at Pikes Peak, its appearance in Australia is a historic first for any Ford SuperVan, and it marks more than 50 years since the debut of original Supervan 1 in 1971.

The original featured a 400hp V8 mounted in the cargo area – Ford actually used a V8 that was based on the unit that powered the GT40 in Le Mans. Like the modern-day version, the classic had special fat wheel arches and massive tyres, as well as custom suspension.

Racing fans will have the opportunity to witness the crazy contraption not only in high-speed demonstration runs during the race weekend but also on public display throughout the Bathurst ‘SuperFest’ week.

The van has been tweaked in recent years, hence the 4.2 name, shedding almost 400kg in weight. Some enhancements have also been made to the battery and electric motors, and there’s a new aerodynamic package capable of generating 2000kg of downforce at 240km/h.

Fans can head over to the Bathurst 12 Hour to check it out. The event runs from February 16-18.

Brett Davis

Brett started out as a motor mechanic but eventually became frustrated working on cars that weren't his. He then earned a degree in journalism and scored a job at Top Gear Australia back in 2008, and then worked at Zoom/Extreme Performance magazines, CarAdvice, and started PerformanceDrive/PDriveTV in 2011 with Josh Bennis, and ran it for 12 years. He's now the owner and managing editor here at Driving Enthusiast.
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