Marcos Ambrose returns to Ford

Ambrose, about to turn 34, will drive a Ford Fusion from next year with the aptly-named RPM outfit.  It is a great relief to Ford that its protege-turned-star driver is back. 

Ambrose was Australian Formula Ford Champion in 1997, then European Formula Ford Champion in 1999. He entered V8 Supercar racing in Fords and won the 2003 and 2004 V8 Supercar Championship in Falcons run by Stone Brothers Racing.

He will move to Richard Petty Motorsport to resume his Ford career by driving the No9 Ford Fusion currently driven by Kasey Kahne. His team-mate in No19 will be A J Allmendinger.  "All of us at Ford are happy to have Marcos back home," said Jamie Allison, director of Ford North America Motorsport.

"We helped Marcos come to America and become a Nascar driver because we believed in his talent and loved the way he connected with Ford fans here and in Australia.  "We believe the move to RPM will give him the car and equipment to win races."

Ambrose has been frustrated at not getting success on the traditional Nascar oval tracks, although he has been a star on the circuit courses.

"I'm happy to be back with Ford racing," Ambrose said. "I'm very excited to join Richard Petty Motorsports. It's an incredible honour to be racing for a legend like The King."  He was referring to team principal Richard Petty who won a record 200 Nascar races from 1184 starts in a 35-year career.

The other co-owner of RPM is George Gillett Jnr, who also co-owns English Premier League team Liverpool FC.  Petty said he, too, was happy Ambrose was coming on board.  "He's a very talented and passionate driver," Petty said. "He's a fan favourite and he's proven to be a tough competitor on track."