For months, people were guessing where I'm going for 2026 - GR86, TA2, F4 - but only a few got it right. I'm thrilled to finally say it for real: I'll be competing in the 2026 Monochrome Australian GT4 Championship with Miedecke Motorsport, behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT4.
This is the biggest step of my career so far. Coming off the back of winning the New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, this opportunity feels like the natural next chapter - and one I've been working towards for a long time.
It's going to be a massive year. I can't wait to take you all along for the ride.
The Team
Miedecke Motorsport is Ford's factory GT4 team in Australia, and the people behind it are exactly the kind of team you want to be part of.
The team is co-owned by George Miedecke - runner-up in last year's GT4 championship by just one point - and his dad Andrew Miedecke, two names well-known in Australian motorsport with a long history behind the wheel across multiple categories. George will also be competing himself this season alongside his co-driver Blake Tracey, the current TA2 Rookie champion.
But the teammate I'm most excited to tell you about is Cooper Cutts. Cooper and I will be sharing our Mustang GT4 throughout the season, and if his recent record is anything to go by, I think we have an awesome pairing. Cooper just claimed the 2025 Radical Australia championship - a title he fought hard for before finally taking it in dominant fashion at The Bend. Championship-winning experience, grit, and racecraft. That's who I get to work with.
Between the two cars, we've got a TA2 Rookie champion, a Formula Ford champion, and a Radical Cup Australia champion. Not a bad lineup.
The Launch
There's no better place to launch a GT4 program than at Bathurst.
We officially unveiled the Mustang at the Bathurst 12 Hour in early February, and honestly it was the perfect setting. Being surrounded by the Ford tent packed with Mustang owners and enthusiasts made it feel like a proper occasion - these are people who genuinely love the car we're racing, and the energy in that tent was exactly what you'd want at a team reveal.
The atmosphere of the 12 Hour itself was electric. Mount Panorama has a way of doing that - there's a reason it's considered one of the most iconic circuits in the world, and experiencing it up close during one of the biggest endurance races in the world was something I'll remember for a long time.
The Mustang also debuted its striking new bold blue livery - a fresh look after two seasons of white-based designs, and one I think looks absolutely stunning on the GT4 body.
It was the perfect way to kick things off. Now it's time to go racing.
Why I'm Excited for 2026
Where do I even start.
The step up in machinery alone is enough to get the blood pumping. Going from a 115hp Formula Ford to a 5.2L V8 Mustang GT4 with around 450-500 horsepower is a completely different world. I've already had a taste of GT4 machinery through the Rodin Cars Formula Ford to Formula 1 Programme, but doing it week in, week out across a full championship season is something else entirely. I was a little nervous heading into testing at Phillip Island - it's a very different style of driving - but I adapted quickly and left hungry for more.
Then there are the tracks we race on. Phillip Island. Sandown. The Bend. These are bucket list circuits for any driver, and I get to compete on them as part of a professional championship. Growing up watching races at these tracks, it doesn't feel real that I'll be lining up on those grids this year.
And the reach of this championship is genuinely exciting from a platform perspective, too. Every round broadcasts live on GTWorld YouTube - which has over 820,000 subscribers - and streams on 7plus, SKY, Kayo and Foxtel. The eyeballs on this series are real, and I'm excited to perform on that stage.
Most of all, though - I just want to race. I've got a brilliant teammate in Cooper, a team that believes in developing young drivers, and a car that I know I can extract the most from. 2026 feels like the year everything starts to get serious.
"2026 feels like the year everything starts to get serious. Let's go."
blakedowdall.shop Is Live
Something I've been working on behind the scenes is finally here - my online store is now live at blakedowdall.shop.
Whether you want to show your support trackside, rep the brand, or just be part of the journey, I've got you covered. Head to the store for:
- Merchandise - wear the brand
- Supporter Packages - the best and easiest way to be part of the team this season
- Stickers - and more
Every single order means a lot and goes directly towards making this campaign the best it can be. If you've been following the journey since Formula Ford, this is the best way to be part of what comes next.
In the Press
Want the full story? Velocity News covered the announcement in detail - read the full article below.
