Motorsport: Ford takes a swing at Holden switchers

Ford fans are furious that Triple Eight Racing's Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes are moving to Holden. Photo / Getty Images

BRISBANE - If the barrage of hate mail wasn't a big enough hint, a cheeky Ford merchandise offer will let Holden converts Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes know exactly where they stand with V8 Supercar fans.

Starting at this weekend's Queensland 300 at Ipswich, fans can pick up an official Ford cap for $10 if they trade in their merchandise from Triple Eight Racing - Lowndes and Whincup's team.

The high profile pair have done their best to reassure fans since their bold announcement recently that they would switch from Ford to sworn enemy Holden next season.

Series leader Whincup has revealed that he spent an entire day answering emails from angry Ford supporters after revealing that they would switch allegiance.

And the duo won't be surprised if the criticism continues from the Ford faithful when they front for the Queensland 300, even though the Ipswich venue is their team's home track.

Although Whincup and Lowndes will drive Falcons for the rest of the season, Ford clearly wants fans to show where their allegiances lie with the audacious merchandise offer.

Mark Winterbottom - who drives for the Blue Oval's flagship team Ford Performance Racing - didn't mind whipping up the discontent created by Whincup and Lowndes' decision.

"This weekend we are doing the trade-in (merchandise offer), I guess you would call it," Winterbottom said at Brisbane on Thursday.

"Our fans are very passionate. They don't want to wear something that doesn't represent who they are going for.

"People are very upset at what has gone on.

"It doesn't get more Ford than our team. We will be racing for them (fans)."

Whincup stressed that they signed a three-year Holden deal after Ford withdrew factory support for their team last year.

"If the boss stops paying you, you don't hang around do you?" Whincup said.

And Whincup believed fans these days tended to support teams or drivers rather than the brand.

"The concept that has made our sport so strong is the Ford-Holden rivalry and that still exists but that is changing now," he said.

"A lot of our fans support the team or Craig and I as drivers. Those guys who count the most they don't mind me driving a Holden."

But leading Holden driver Garth Tander disagreed with Whincup's theory.

"It's brand loyalty first, then probably driver loyalty and team loyalty," he said.

"The reaction they (Whincup, Lowndes) have had since their announcement has been more negative than positive from a lot of their supporters.

"Even though they are not supported by Ford they are still driving a Ford product - it (reaction) just shows the tribal nature from which the sport has grown is still very, very strong."

Defending V8 Supercars champion Whincup arrives at the Queensland 300 - No.8 of the 15-round season - with 1,791 series points ahead of Will Davison (1,674) and his Holden teammate Tander (1,416).

Practice for round eight begins on Friday with a 33-lap race on Saturday and a 65-lap event on Sunday.

- AAP