V8 Supercars heavyweights Stone Brothers Racing (SBR) will end a long partnership with Ford in order to help usher Mercedes-Benz into the category next year.
After almost 12 months of talks, SBR on Wednesday confirmed that they would merge with Erebus Motorsport and race three vehicles from next year.
SBR had won three drivers championships and the 1998 Bathurst enduro since first linking with Ford in 1998.
In the new super alliance, SBR links with Erebus Motorsport who have been dominant in the Australian GT category racing Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
“Leaving Ford was not an easy thing to do but as car markets change here in Australia I felt the time was right for a new challenge and with Ford’s mutual agreement we have decided to part ways,” SBR owner Ross Stone said.
“We will be racing a Ford Falcon for the last time at Olympic Park in December and will see out our contract which ends this year.”
The announcement ends weeks of speculation linking Mercedes-Benz with a V8 Supercars debut.
They join Nissan as new faces next year alongside traditional rivals Holden and Ford in the V8 championship thanks to regulations that open the way for additional manufacturers and lower-cost cars.