Ford’s only Bathurst 1000 winners in the past 14 years are now their enemies.

Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup’s three-peat from 2006 to 2008 was a wonderful bright spot for Ford.

But before that duo, who since defected to Holden, Ford’s last winners at Bathurst were Jason Bright and Steve Richards back in 1998.

With Holden having won the last three Bathursts, it’s an honour roll that statistically does little to gladden the heart of Blue Oval fans.

But in 2012 Ford has emerged with a legitimate V8 Supercar title challenger in Mark Winterbottom, and there is plenty of driver pairing depth underneath.

Going into Sunday’s Bathurst 1000, Winterbottom trails Whincup by just 32 points for the championship.

There is also plenty of feeling between the two heading to Mt Panorama after a controversial passing move Winterbottom pulled on his Holden arch-rival at the lead-up Sandown 500.

There Winterbottom launched an inside attack, bumping Whincup and nearly sending him off track on his way to second place.

The move earned the ire of both Whincup and Team Vodafone team boss Roland Dane.

“Sometimes you’re on the end of it, sometimes you’re the guy that does the pass,” Winterbottom said.

“The car felt good in there so I had a bit of a crack … and I was pretty happy with the result.”

Whincup and Lowndes, driving in separate Holdens, will be the most obvious stumbling blocks to a Ford win.

But they can expect that Winterbottom, who will team with two-time Bathurst champion Richards for Ford Performance Racing, are not their only serious Ford challengers.

Ford also have capable back-ups in 2009 Bathurst winner Will Davison, who drives with experienced New Zealander John McIntyre, and rising star David Reynolds teamed with Dean Canto.

Kiwi Shane Van Gisbergen and Luke Youlden could also be a factor – in Stone Brothers Racing’s last tilt at the mountain in a Ford before they switch to Mercedes next year.

It is 35 years since Ford produced their finest and most memorable moment at Mt Panorama – Allan Moffat and Colin Bond’s 1-2 form finish in their brutish XC Falcon hardtops.

For Winterbottom, who has never conquered Bathurst, the question is can he lead Ford to a victory which would not only be historic, but championship-defining?