MATTFactor: from Supercup to Supercars
Barcelona, Monaco, Ipswich – that’s the lot of Australia’s newest international racing star…Last time I wrote for motoring.com.au I was getting ready for my first ever round of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, not knowing where I would sit in the most competitive one-make field in the world.
A month later I’m typing with two rounds of the championship under my belt and two incredible experiences in the memory banks.
Barcelona benchmark
To say the first round of Supercup at Barcelona on the same weekend as the F1 GP was above my expectations would be an understatement!
Going into the weekend I truly didn’t know where we were going to stack up, even though we were pretty quick in testing. It’s hard to get a good form guide until you get everyone out of testing mode and into race mode!
The first round was unique because it was a double header – with the grid for the two races set on the fastest lap times from the single qualifying session earlier in the weekend.
I treated it like any other session and banked a good time early, but at the end I was able to put in a few flyers and get pole -- for both races. It was a big surprise! We knew we would have some speed but that was beyond expectations.
Even though we didn’t convert our qualifying and starting positions into better results, I was over the moon to grab a podium and fight for the lead in race two. Standing up on the podium on an F1 weekend was a great experience and hopefully we can do it again this year -- on the top step!
In a long season, the Spain weekend was a great way to start laying the building blocks.
Magic Monaco
The whole Monaco weekend is a circus, even down to our pit setup which is inside a tent!
After watching F1 races for years, I knew it was a pretty daunting track -- having even less margin for a mistake than some street tracks back home.
It was a surreal experience racing around the streets there. It’s an incredible place. The first one or two laps of the track are eye opening, but once you start getting some more laps under your belt and start getting in a rhythm, it's mega fun.
I was expecting it to be a little bumpier but it wasn't at all -- quite smooth and flowing.
Qualifying went well, I think we could have been able to be a couple more positions up the grid after getting slightly held up – but I was still happy with fifth.
In the race I managed to get a much better start then my previous attempts in Barcelona! I finished where I started because close to impossible to pass around there.
The best thing was I made it through the weekend with no battle scars and more good points in the bag. Not to mention ticking the box of actually racing around Monaco.
From Supercup to Supercars!
After Monaco there was no time to catch my breath – it was straight on to another international flight and directly to Queensland Raceway for my first test with the Red Bull Holden Racing team.
Not sure how many other people travel directly from Monaco to Ipswich but I’m here to tell you -- it’s a long way!
The supercar test went really well and I felt comfortable in the car straight away – even if there is a slight size difference between myself and Shane (van Gisbergen).
Getting up to speed in the Supercar didn't take as long as I was expecting, especially because I haven't driven one since Gold Coast last year. Although I did notice that I’ve already been spoiled with things like paddle-shifters in my Porsche.
It was great to get back to a ‘stick’ and heel and toe driving. I think it can only help you more as a driver and in my case, the more mileage and racing the better!
It’s been interesting watching the Supercars from afar. The Red Bull Holden Racing Team guys are fighting so hard at the front of the field – it’s great racing. It’s going to be a hugely competitive year and I’m sure by enduro time we’re going to be in a great position to contend.
I’ll be back in the Supercar for a final pre-enduro test a few weeks before the Sandown 500, straight after the second-last round of Supercup at Monza.
Off to Austria
As I write this, after a few days at home catching up with friends and family, I’m heading straight back to Europe and to Austria where the FACH Auto Tech team will be tackling the next round of the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland.
It’s a great chance for me and my teammate to get some laps at the Red Bull Ring, before Supercup races there in July.
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