Ford SuperVan to take on Bathurst

Romain Dumas tackled Pikes Peak in Ford SuperVan 4.2 and is now heading to Bathurst

Having conquered Pikes Peak, Ford’s iconic SuperVan 4.2 will tackle a new mountain – Mt Panorama.

Former Le Mans winner and Pikes Peak veteran, Romain Dumas, will hit the track in SuperVan for a series of demonstration runs around the track during the Bathurst 12 Hour weekend.

“Driving SuperVan 4.2 is always a huge privilege and after the successful outing at Pikes Peak, I am delighted that the Ford Performance team keep finding new and exciting ways to push the envelope,” Dumas said. “For any racing driver, Bathurst is a unique and exhilarating challenge and I can’t wait to give the Australian fans a show they will hopefully never forget.”

VIDEO: Ford SuperVan 4 technical deep dive

SuperVan 4 is an all-electric, rally-inspired twist on Ford’s Transit van features a state-of-the-art electric powertrain developed by Ford Performance and STARD Advanced Research and Development; the same company that developed the electric World Rallycross powertrains.

The specific version of the van that is arriving in Australia is in the same 4.2 specification that Dumas used for the 2023 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where he raced up the famous mountain in just 8:47.682 seconds to win the Open Class; and finish just seven seconds off the overall winning time.

To achieve this SuperVan 4.2 was redesigned from its 2022 launch, with a new tr-motor powertrain that makes a staggering 1050kW (1400hp) and STARD’s Ultra High Performance Li-Polymer NMC pouch cells, which help reduce weight. The aerodynamics were totally redesigned too, with the rear end of the SuperVan not as spacious as a standard Transit Custom thanks to its tapered rear and huge wing.

The SuperVan 4.2 is the first of the four generations of SuperVan to ever reach Australia. The original SuperVan debuted in 1971 and featured a mid-mounted V8 engine from the Le Mans-winning GT40 in the back of a Transit. SuperVan 2 and 3 would use F1-spec Cosworth engines before this latest version became part of Ford’s electric showcase, alongside the Mustang Mach-E 1400 and the newly-unveiled F-150 Lightning Switchgear.