Dave Pericak is moving on. 

Effective December 1, 2017, engineering chief Mark Rushbrook will take over Pericak’s role as Global Director of Ford Performance, as the former boss transitions to a new role in product development.

Pericak, who was integral to the formation of Ford’s GT racing program on both sides of the ocean, will become Engineering Director of North America Unibody Applications, leaving him in charge of all Ford’s unibody programs on the continent. Pericak’s former role will be split in two, with Hermann Salenbauch now responsible for the development of Ford Performance production vehicles like the GT350, GT, and Focus RS.

The promotion is the second major shakeup to Ford’s motorsports program after Raj Nair was promoted to Executive VP and President of Ford North America this summer.

“It’s always hard to leave something that you have led the creation and development of, like Ford Performance, but it’s the right thing for the company and for me right now,” Pericak told SportsCar365.

“The timing with Dec. 1 was specific because we are committed to helping our NASCAR and WEC teams win championships this year and we are all-in to do just that.

“Part of the original plan was for us to rotate people in and out of Ford Performance to take those things we learn in racing back into Ford mainstream engineering, and that goes for me too.

“So I look forward to the challenges ahead, but really want to help Ford win a few more championships this coming month.”

Rushbrook is no stranger to the Performance side of the equation, having been heavily involved in the development of the 2017 Ford Mustang GT4.

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