THE next generation Ford Falcon V8 Supercar is a potential starter at next year’s Bathurst 1000.

Ford Racing manager Ray Price said the next generation race car shells and panels, based on the 2008-model "Project Orion" Falcon, would be delivered to the V8 teams from the first half of next year, making a 2008 enduro race debut a real possibility.

Ford Racing manager Price is keen for the new Falcon to hit the track next year, but only if it is competitive.

New car models can only be homologated at the start of a season or midyear. If the "Orion" Falcon race car is homologated on July 1, 2008 it will be eligible for next year’s Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000.

Price said having the race car on track so soon after the launch of the road car (early in the second half of 2008) would be big marketing opportunity for the sport and allow Ford to get exposure for the new Falcon. But he admitted such a tight timetable could put a potential championship win at risk.

"I won’t say we won’t be there in ‘08 and I won’t say we will," he said. "It is a possibility to be ready in time for Bathurst. Whether it is desirable is not something I can answer at this stage.

"It is a risk, so that’s why I’m not saying we’ll do it. It could mean you have to run a double platform – two different cars – and that would mean essentially taking two teams to the track.

"The vehicle will be dependent on homologation date, and we are planning on that occurring in the middle of next year. The shells can be sent out before that, and the panels can be released at any time to the teams so they can build the car and then have it ready for homologation. That keeps our options open.

"Everyone will have it on the grid by 2009."

Price said he had kept track of Larry Perkins’ difficulties running a VE-model Commodore alongside the older VZ. He said he would prefer not to have the "Orion" Falcon on the track and have it beaten by the current model Ford.

"We could (have teams not in championship contention using the new model and title contenders to continue with the BF-model). But I wouldn’t expect to have the new model on track if it wasn’t competitive with the old (current BF) model," he said.

Price refused to comment on how different the "Orion" Falcon will be to the current BF, but indicated there were improvements that would carry over to the race car.

"Most of the mechanical component is controlled by ‘Project Blueprint’ so not a lot of that can change, but the new car has to be easier to build, easier to prepare and cheaper overall. I am very supportive of a cost-containment process and a new model is an ideal opportunity to implement those things," he said.

"We can’t show anything of the race car before the road car is released."

It takes two Enduro drivers revealed V8 Supercars switches into enduro mode for Sandown and Bathurst in just three rounds and more pieces of the co-driver puzzle are starting to come together. Brad Jones' retirement from full-time racing has him now partnering either nephew Andrew Jones or new recruit Simon Wills. Steven Ellery, meanwhile, will make his enduro comeback as Paul Morris' teammate at Team Sirromet Wines, while Nathan Pretty is driver four for the Holden Racing Team. Since the last edition of V8X, Owen Kelly was the last confirmation for Ford Performance Racing and David Besnard as James Courtney's teammate at Stone Brothers Racing. Team Vodafone will again use the driving talents of Allan Simonsen and Richard Lyons, while the impending sale of Supercheap Auto Racing has raised questions as to whether outgoing team owner Paul Weel will race or expected new owner John Marshall's son Marcus will take his place. Firm favourite for Paul Cruickshank Racing is still the team's test driver Jonathan Webb alongside the retiring John Bowe, while the same can be said for Fujitsu Series leader Tony D'Alberto, who is expected to partner Steve Owen in the Autobarn Commodore. While WPS Racing confirmed Ford Rising Stars standout Michael Caruso, teammate Grant Denyer – previously linked with the embattled Team Kiwi Racing Falcon – was still confident of make the starting grid in September as V8X went to print. Otherwise, only Tasman Motorsport, Team BOC, Jack Daniels Racing and Jim Beam Racing are yet to officially confirn their fourth drivers. - Filippa Guarna Nathan Pretty will line up with HRT again.