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Supercars Mustang looks are 'polarising', admits DJR Penske boss

DJR Team Penske boss Ryan Story says the Supercars-spec Mustang was 'always going to be polarising' in terms of its looks, but is happy with the finished liveried product

The Mustang, developed and homologated by DJRTP, split opinion when the prototype was first unveiled in a camouflage livery last November.

The bubble-style roof, a necessity due to the control Supercars chassis, along with the low, swooping nose and massive rear wing prompted a mixed reaction on social media.

Story said the need to drape a two-door car over the chassis was inevitably visually "challenging", and hopes the fully-liveried cars revealing in recent days have pacified people unimpressed by the car in its camouflage scheme.

"I think it was always going to be a little bit polarising, just in terms of the decisions that we had to make to ensure that we met the rules of Supercars and effectively fitting the Mustang onto the control chassis," he said as champion Scott McLaughlin's Mustang was unveiled on Monday.

"It was always going to be challenging. In hindsight with the camo livery, it did almost too good a job of hiding some elements of the car.

"But it certainly made for a great unveil today, and Ford's soft release last week was pretty exciting for people to see the car for real for the first time.

"We certainly kept a few things up our sleeve, which is good.

"Some of the mixed reaction has been interesting, but we take it in our stride.

"I think the car in its war paint looks the goods and Brian Novak from Ford Performance said it best - there are no ugly cars in victory lane."

While the high roof line of the control chassis has received a lot of the blame for the Mustang dimensions, there are some elements - such as the rear wing and low nose - that are more closely aligned to aero efficiency than meeting a Supercars-mandated regulation.

While not expanding on the specifics of the aero package, Story admitted that performance was at times prioritised over aesthetics.

"It's been a critical part of the story for us," he said.

McLaughlin said he was happy with the final look of the car in its proper livery.

"I love it. The rear wing is a bit talking point between a lot of people, but once I've seen it with the stickers on it it looks really cool," he said.

"I think it looks tough."

DJRTP has also confirmed that it will run a completely unchanged driver line-up across the season.

As expected Alex Premat will return to partner McLaughlin for the long-distance races, while Tony D'Alberto is back with Fabian Coulthard for the enduros.

"Alex is a superstar, and a guy that has really set up the back half of my season over the last two years," said McLaughlin.

"Without Alex's speed and experience in the car across the enduros, I don't think I would have been able to win the championship."

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