The club, launched at the recent Vodafone Gold Coast 600 event by Ford Motor Company director Edsel Ford II and Ford Performance’s motorsport director Mark Rushbrook, welcomed its first member, Ryan O’Neill, who recently bought a Ranger Raptor utility.

Ford Australia says there is no additional cost to become a member, merely buy one of its performance vehicles that from December this year will include the Fiesta ST, Focus ST, Ranger Raptor and the Mustang 2.3L High Performance, Mustang GT and Mustang R-Spec models.

“Ford has a long tradition of racing, and a proud heritage in motorsport and enthusiast models,” Mr Ford said at the Gold Coast Supercars event.

“The Ford Performance philosophy is based on design, innovation and adrenaline, and bringing this Ford Performance DNA to our road-going models for our customers to enjoy.”

Mark Rushbrook said: “Ford Performance models take what we learn on racetracks and rally circuits around the world, in the heat of competition, to deliver the next level of innovation and technology to our enthusiast models.

“We use the expertise we develop in competition to design and engineer performance vehicles that excite and inspire.”

The Ford Performance Club’s Welcome Pack includes a Ford Performance-branded textured presentation box, Ford GT 1:18 scale model in Liquid Blue, exclusive Ford Performance MacPac UberLight down jacket, and Ford Performance card with membership number.

Members have access to a portal with special offers, event details, news and other benefits.

Ford Australia president and CEO Kay Hart said: “The Ford Performance Club is something we know customers have been looking for, and brings a higher level of engagement and opportunity for owners to be part of shaping the future of Ford Performance.”

All eligible Ford Performance Club models come with Ford Service Benefits, including a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Ford Performance Club Membership is standard with models listed, when purchased new through Ford dealerships in Australia.

By Neil Dowling