Ford Mustang Mach 1 hauls its way into seventh at MOTOR’s Sports Car of the Year 2022

Hot Mustang keeps its cool! Track action failed to stop the Ford Mustang Mach 1 on its way to seventh in Sports Car of the Year 2022.

Phillip Island’s last turn is big commitment, big reward. Tip in, aim for the marshals post at apex, get your left wheels onto the ripple strip, and then begin applying throttle all the way over the crest at exit for a full-throttle run past the pits.

All too often while driving a SCOTY contender I would enter the last turn with nothing in my mirrors, but by halfway down the straight a Twister Orange cruise missile was barrelling past me at full chat. This year, the Ford Mustang Mach 1 was clearly making up for the failures of its forebears to dominate on track.

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Fastest over both the quarter mile and full circuit, the Mach 1’s numbers dominated the SCOTY field. Not content with knocking out its class rivals, the American brute then gave the Jaguar F-Type a bloody nose beating it over both measured disciplines, while jabbing the BMW and Alpina twins in the kidneys by going quicker over the quarter mile and overall lap respectively. Patronise the Mach 1 as a mere sticker pack at your peril.

More impressive than the ultimate lap time was the fact we didn’t encounter limp mode once, something that has crippled every Mustang PCOTY contender until this point. After 80 kilometres of hard running at Phillip Island, the Mach 1 stared down the assorted judges and asked, ‘Is that it?’ Demons, exorcised.

On the road the damping is firmish, only finding itself flustered on the patchiest of surfaces. That said, smaller, cheaper cars in the field were unfaltering on the same section of road. The Mach 1’s X-Factor is so pervasive it can at times mask the Mustang’s more benign grand touring chops.

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On the road, the Mach 1 was harder to hustle than less powerful competitors, without a significant pace reward. No such issues on track, where the mountain of torque, slick shifter, and neutral chassis balance shone. Steering feel is the Mach 1’s Achilles heel. There’s no shortage of grip, but communication through the wheel goes AWOL moments after initial turn-in.

You are forced to put blind trust in the car with no reassurance through tactility. “The Mustang never feels small and nimble but it’s fun and authentic, with genuine capability,” added Bernie.

In almost every sense the Mach 1 is a Shelby-lite Mustang. It’s worlds beyond what a standard GT can offer. Simply improving the breed isn’t enough – the mid-field fight was closely run, and as a result, the Mach 1’s seventh place finish undersells its talents. If speed and speed alone was the sole criterion, the Mach 1 would have aced the SCOTY field. But there’s more to greatness than pace alone, and the Mustang’s taciturn controls tumbled it down the judging scorecards.

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The judges’ comments

Alex Affat

“It’s an overlooked fact but the shift action of the Mach 1’s gearbox vies with the MX-5’s as the best here.”

Ranking 8th

Andy Enright

“Engine sounds fantastic. Big, lazy oversteerer on track. Answers the brief of a Mustang GT plus 10%.”

Ranking: 7th

Trent Giunco

“Long gearing still an issue but there’s a mountain of torque. None of the judges babied it on track.”

Ranking: 5th

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Cameron Kirby

“This is the best Mustang you can buy in Australia bar none. The 700 customers have made a great choice.”

Ranking: 5th

Bernie Quinn

“Weird steering. As you turn the wheel, it starts to build torque and feel, then it plateaus or disappears.”

Ranking: 5th

Luffy’s view

“The front end should not have that much grip considering how much weight you’ve got hanging over it.”

The key figures