Ben Grice to debut new Ford Mustang Trans Am at Phillip Island
April 24, 2023
Ben Grice has secured a new Ford Mustang Trans Am race car for the remaining rounds of the 2023 National Trans Am Series.
The All American Drive Line-backed racer was involved in a major front straight accident during the second race of the opening round at Symmons Plain in February where his allying machine was struck in the rear by James Simpson.
After assessment from the team, the chassis was deemed unrepairable, forcing the Melbourne-based squad to source a new chassis and use the salvageable components from his original Mustang to get the title contender back on track.
Grice had displayed front running pace in the opening round in Tasmania. He qualified on pole and finished second to title leader James Moffat in Race 1 before the spectacular crash.
Simpson’s car was pitched into a wild roll, while Grice’s car copped a huge hit behind the driver’s roll hoop.
Grice is preparing to return to the track at Phillip Island this Wednesday where he will complete his first test in the new All American Drive Line and Auto Parts Ford Mustang ahead of the second round at the same venue.
The next round of the National Trans Am Series will be held as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries at Phillip Island on May 12-14.
All of the action from Saturday and Sunday will be broadcast on Stan Sport, while free-to-air coverage can be found on 9GEM on Saturday, 2-5pm AEST.
Tickets can secured at https://www.speedseries.com.au/tickets/
QUOTES
Ben Grice
#03 All American Drive Line and Auto Parts Ford Mustang
“Wednesday’s test will be important, I’m feeling good. It’s just a matter of getting comfortable and learning this new car,” said Grice.
“The car is basically brand new from the windscreen back, but we know we’ll still be strong and competitive when we return.
“I’m fortunate to have such a wonderful support group around me, with Les Small, Chris, Glenn and Callum, I couldn’t ask for a better group of people. I’m so proud of their persistence, hard work, dedication and attention to detail to build a car to come back.
“We just need to have a clean weekend and do what we did at Symmons Plains where we ticked a lot of boxes. We know at Phillip Island we’re going to be fast, we were last year.
"I think we’re due for some good results to repay the guys in the workshop as well as All American Drive Line.”