![\"Ford](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DJR-victory.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDJR celebrates victory at The Bend. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDJR celebrates victory at The Bend. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
Mustangs swept the podium with Brodie Kostecki\/Todd Hazelwood (Dick Johnson Racing) leading home Cam Waters\/Mark Winterbottom (Tickford Racing) and Matt Payne\/Garth Tander (Grove Racing).<\/p>\n
The result followed parity changes in the lead-up to the event that consisted of a revised aerodynamic package and the reintroduction of a shift-cut offset in Ford\u2019s favour.<\/a><\/p>\n Supercars approved the changes after a study of track data that confirmed a straightline speed deficit to the Chevrolet Camaros.<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s result marked Ford\u2019s first Supercars endurance race win since the 2019 Great Race and its first in \u2018the 500\u2019 since 2017.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a happy day for Ford and Ford Racing with three Mustangs locking out the podium,\u201d said Ford Racing Australian motorsport manager Brendan McGinniskin post-race.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was great to see we could compete with Chevrolets in a straight line, as that\u2019s been a long time coming.<\/p>\n \t\tWin a trip to the Adelaide 500 for you and 4 friends \ud83d\udc49: FREE ENTRY<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut we\u2019re under no illusions. The Bend isn\u2019t Bathurst, and now we\u2019re full steam ahead to ensure we\u2019re in the same fighting position at Mount Panorama.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The latter is a clear reference to ongoing engine parity analysis by Supercars, which has pledged to complete a barometric pressure study ahead of the Great Race.<\/p>\n Aero changes for The Bend were aimed at decreasing drag on the Ford but also came with a rearward aero balance shift.<\/p>\n While McGinniskin hailed the straightline speed boost, Ford drivers were more reserved on any improvements in the aftermath of Sunday\u2019s contest.<\/p>\n Kostecki, who has been at the heart of the parity push after switching from GM team Erebus for 2025, suggested after qualifying at The Bend that the race would provide an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s sort of hard for me to really tell, I wasn\u2019t around too many other cars,\u201d he offered post-race, noting he\u2019d also dominated last time out at The Bend in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to win the race but I feel like I\u2019m really good around this place too. It\u2019s a tough one.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably Toddy spent some time behind a Camaro for a little bit, but probably knew we were a bit stronger than those guys with our race pace.<\/p>\n \u201cWe seem to always do well at this place. I think in the last four races I\u2019ve been able to win four of them, so I feel really lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n