Ford racing’s poster boy Mark Winterbottom says the manufacturer’s decision to cease its support of the V8 Supercars championship will have little or no affect on the drivers themselves.

The man dubbed ‘‘Frosty’’ has been driving for the Ford Performance Racing (FPR) team for his entire career and is contracted with the franchise until the end of 2016.

He even signed a contract extension after winning his first Bathurst 1000 in 2013 and said at the time he wanted to be a Ford driver for life.

The future of Ford’s involvement in Australian V8 racing is now up in the air after the company announced on Monday it would end its financial support of the sport in 12 months time.

Ford only provides financial support to FPR, but also assists Dick Johnson Racing on a parts supply agreement.

It is unknown whether FPR will opt to race under the company’s other name, Prodrive Racing Australia (PRA).

Either way Winterbottom wants to see out his contract, which will take him to 11 years with FPR/PRA team.

He was reluctant to comment on Monday’s revelations when speaking to the Illawarra Mercury on Tuesday.

‘‘I'm sure it gets spoken about but for us (the drivers), we heard it yesterday and hopped on a plane today (Tuesday),’’ Winterbottom said.

‘‘For us our focus doesn't change.

‘‘If we start thinking about things that aren't even really to do with us then you sort of take focus away from driving.

‘‘For Chaz (Mostert) and I it's getting results on the weekend and that's what we're paid to do.

‘‘We focus on this weekend, that's our focus, we're trying to win this weekend and finish off the year on a high.

‘‘Then next year we race the Falcon FG X and next year we will try to win as well.’’

Winterbottom is intent on using this weekend’s Sydney NRMA 500 as a welcome distraction from Ford’s controversial announcement.

Sydney will host the final leg of the 2014 Supercars championship and Winterbottom has the chance to clinch second spot overall.

He currently sits second behind Jamie Whincup - who already has the championship sewn up - but V8 legend and old rival Craig Lowndes looms as a threat to second place.

An ongoing feud between Lowndes and Winterbottom peaked at Bathurst in October when the latter was rammed by the former and essentially cruelled the chances of either winning Australia’s most popular motor race.

Rookie Ford driver Chaz Mostert went on to claim an unlikely and historic Bathurst 1000 win, overtaking Jamie Whincup who ran out of fuel on the final lap.

‘‘It was good, Chaz is a good young bloke,’’ Winterbottom said.

‘‘We were in a good position, looking like we could probably win it, but then when it all went wrong you cheer on the next guy who was Chaz.

‘‘Two years in a row for the team is a really cool thing.’’

Winterbottom and Mostert were special guests at a sponsor’s event at Bluescope Steel headquarters yesterday, along with Mostert’s winning No 6 car.