A BRIGHT blue XD Ford Falcon with a Johnson behind the wheel will return to Mount Panorama this weekend in search of success four decades on from the original etching the family into Bathurst folklore.
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Dubbed 'Tru Blu 2' by the team, Steven Johnson's Falcon - a tribute to Dick Johnson's iconic Bathurst Ford of the early 1980s - will make its Mount debut as part of the Touring Car Masters series.
Though not the first XD Falcon to tackle TCM races at Mount Panorama, it will be the first time that the Team Johnson example will race in Bathurst.
"It's going to be pretty cool to bring a Tru Blu Falcon back to Bathurst," Johnson said.
"Whether they were fans or not, so many people have memories of watching the original car and Dad race there in the 1980s. It's such an iconic piece of Bathurst history, so to go back there with our new Tru Blu 2 TCM car is pretty special.
"The car is still very new and we're still learning a lot every time it gets on track, but getting to Bathurst and racing there is going to be a big step forward for Team Johnson and the car as we develop it into a race winner."
It is one of several highlights amidst a talent-packed field set to tackle four races as part of the series' second round of 2021.
Johnson sits third in the overall standings; five-time champion John Bowe and young Tasmanian rising star Adam Garwood locked atop the championship table after splitting the race victories in the opening round of the championship at Symmons Plains in January.
Both are confirmed for this weekend: Bowe's story the most remarkable given his recent diagnosis of Prostate cancer.
Bowe has already commenced treatment in Melbourne but, despite feeling unwell, has committed to at the very least taking to the track this weekend and avoid putting a backup plan in action.
The hall-of-famer has seen an outpouring of public support since he confirmed news of his diagnosis three weeks ago but has continually vowed to race this weekend aboard his Torana.
"Yes I'm going to be at Bathurst," Bowe posted on his public Facebook page.
"I haven't felt great since my initial procedure for Prostate Cancer, but it's very random so I'm going to give the racing a crack, mainly because it's Bathurst.
"If I can't do it I have a plan B, but I'm hoping to not have to use it.
"Once again I want to thank the thousands and thousands of folks who sent me well wishes and advice. It's truly touching and greatly appreciated."
An expanded field includes the return of Queenslander Ryal Harris and his Chevrolet Camaro.
Harris was forced to miss the opening round after delays in shipping saw vital engine parts for his car missing in action.
Despite missing the first three races of the season, the former V8 Ute Series champion is likely to contend this weekend; he was a round winner in 2019 and finished on the podium on his Mount Panorama TCM debut as well.
After practice, qualifying and the opening trophy race on Friday, the first championship race of the weekend will be held on Saturday morning, followed by two further races on Sunday.
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