Back
Sports

Supercars Initiate Pre-Season Parity Testing and Team Shakedowns Ahead of New Season

Generated on: Last updated: 5 sources
View source

Supercars Pre-Season Kicks Off with Chassis Shakedowns and Extensive Parity Testing

Supercars teams have officially commenced their pre-season track activity, focusing on shakedowns for new chassis and crucial parity testing across manufacturer brands. Initial sessions were held at Queensland Raceway, with further evaluations slated for the iconic Mount Panorama. Triple Eight, now serving as Ford's homologation and engine supply team, has introduced minor modifications to the Ford engine, primarily aimed at boosting reliability. Ford teams have expressed satisfaction with the updated Mustang Supercar homologation.

Queensland Raceway Hosts Initial Pre-Season Track Activity

Triple Eight marked its inaugural track activity since transitioning to Ford, with sessions held at Queensland Raceway on February 9-10. This followed the Red Bull Ampol Racing launch in Geelong, Victoria. The February 9-10 sessions saw the initial laps for three new Triple Eight Ford Mustang chassis. February 9 also served as a rookie day for Jackson Walls in the SCT Motorsport customer entry, alongside the Red Bull Ampol cars for Broc Feeney and Will Brown. The running at Queensland Raceway was open to the public.

Concurrent Parity Testing Underway

Concurrently, Supercars officials conducted pre-season parity testing at the circuit over these two days.

"The testing involved a Toyota Supra and a Chevrolet Camaro alongside the Ford Mustangs, with officials utilizing these sessions for engine parity evaluations across the three represented manufacturer brands."

Other Teams Join the Fray

Other teams also participated in track activities during this period:

  • Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) conducted a shakedown for Brodie Kostecki's new #17 Mustang at Ipswich and returned to Queensland Raceway on February 9 for a rookie test with Rylan Gray, who drove the #38 Mustang.
  • Walkinshaw TWG Racing's #1 Chaz Mostert Toyota Supra and Matt Stone Racing's #4 Jack Le Brocq Chevrolet Camaro were present at Queensland Raceway.
  • Triple Eight's #888 car, driven by Will Brown, had its shakedown at the same venue.
  • Triple Eight and Matt Stone Racing returned to Queensland Raceway for additional rookie days, featuring Jackson Walls and Zach Bates, respectively.

Mount Panorama Set for Crucial Straight-Line Parity Evaluations

Further parity evaluations involving all three manufacturer brands are scheduled to take place at Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 12 Hour event the following weekend. The testing schedule includes four 30-minute sessions across Friday and Saturday.

Bathurst 12 Hour to Host Further Testing

Vehicles involved in the Mount Panorama testing include a Triple Eight Ford Mustang, a Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro, and a Walkinshaw TWG Toyota Supra. The primary objective of this testing is to ensure straight-line parity between the Mustang and Camaro, addressing previous discussions regarding the Camaro's performance on Conrod at Bathurst. Supercars motorsport boss Tim Edwards noted the opportunity to assess straight-line performance, considering aero changes to existing cars and the introduction of the new Toyota. The testing aims to understand the top speeds of the vehicles.

Pre-Bathurst Preparation

Prior to the Bathurst sessions, all three cars underwent testing on a rolling road chassis dynamometer and had track time at Queensland Raceway. This preceding work focused on engine deceleration, a key parity parameter, specifically how the engine decelerates from wide-open throttle at 7,500rpm.

Triple Eight Embraces New Role: Ford Homologation and Engine Supply

Triple Eight has officially assumed the role of Ford's homologation team and has taken over as the engine supplier for Ford in the Supercars series, replacing Motorsport Powertrains, which was owned by Dick Johnson Racing. This significant change is part of Triple Eight's transition from General Motors.

Transition from GM and Ford Team Satisfaction

"Ford teams have indicated satisfaction with the Mustang Supercar homologated under Triple Eight's supervision, noting that adjustments were initiated by Triple Eight following collaborative feedback."
The specification for the updated Mustang was finalized after wind tunnel testing and analysis.

Wind Tunnel Car Deployment

Triple Eight represented Ford at the Windshear wind tunnel in December, and its three new cars are separate from the wind tunnel car. Team 18's wind tunnel car, which returned to its Melbourne workshop, will be utilized for the Bathurst parity testing before becoming the squad's spare and wildcard chassis. Walkinshaw air-freighted its wind tunnel car back from the US, which will be used for parity tests and will serve as Chaz Mostert's race car for the season.

Ford Engine Modifications Focus on Reliability, Not Performance

Triple Eight has implemented minor modifications to the 5.4-liter Coyote V8 engine prior to the season's start, with the primary focus on reliability, not performance, in response to engine failures observed in the previous year. The base engine package has been well-received by drivers during initial tests.

Minor "Tidy-Ups" for the Coyote V8

Modifications, described as "tidy-ups," are not aimed at increasing power, as power is capped by regulations, but rather to improve aspects such as balanced airflow through the manifold. Minor upgrades include adjusting throttle body orientation and re-routing oil lines. Supercars motorsport boss Tim Edwards confirmed these changes are not performance-related.

Details of Changes and Engine Shop Operations

Triple Eight's new engine shop, located at its Banyo headquarters, has produced eight new engines and completed half-life rebuilds on five others. The team is currently in an understanding and testing phase, acknowledging the extensive analysis, testing, and homologation processes required for implementing and verifying changes, particularly concerning component cracking. A specific area of focus is reportedly the crankshaft, where cracking issues have been observed. The engine department experienced a change in leadership in January with the departure of Cam Clancy. The shop currently operates with two full-time staff, former MPT employees Kaz Penwarden and Brent Blakey, with a third person expected to join.

Manufacturer Representation for the Upcoming Season

For the upcoming season, Ford is set to have the most representation among Supercars manufacturers, with five teams: Triple Eight, Grove, Tickford, Dick Johnson Racing, and the Blanchard Racing Team. General Motors will have four teams, and Toyota will have two. Ford achieved its initial Bathurst 1000 and championship victories in the Gen3 era last year.