MOTORSPORT: Parity debate rages in Supercars

While the all-new fleet of Gen3 Supercars continues to log testing miles ahead of the 2023 Supercars championship, the political plays off-track are hitting overdrive.

Both the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro are set to undertake further aerodynamic testing next week following public displeasure expressed from the Blue Oval camp.

Adding further fuel to the parity debate, the results of yesterday’s official pre-season test at Sydney Motorsport Park have raised eyebrows, with Camaros dominating 11 of the top-12 positions in the afternoon session.

However, in a day of changeable weather conditions, three different tyre compounds were available to competitors, which saw each squad run their own program, with some noted to have bypassed a qualifying simulation.

Also, it was believed that the Fords were running heavy with its new double overhead valve powerplant being bulkier than the new Chevrolet’s, with no overall minimum weight benchmark currently noted in the regulations.

Regardless, the four-car Brad Jones Racing Camaro squad looked fast throughout the day, with Andre Heimgartner (R&J Batteries) topping both of the sessions, and his three stablemates Macauley Jones (Pizza Hut), Jack Smith (SCT Logistics) and Bryce Fullwood (Middy’s Electrical) finishing the day within the top six.

All told, the team registered 352 laps for the day, leading home the pair of Red Bull Ampol Racing Camaros of Shane van Gisbergen, Broc Feeney and co-driver Jamie Whincup, who logged 202 circuits.

BJR has form on the board adapting to new rules, such as when the most recent regulations were introduced in 2013, team drivers Fabian Coulthard and Jason Bright both registered multiple early season wins.

Meanwhile, the Coca-Cola-backed Erebus Chevys of Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki placed two-three on the timesheets.

The Gen3 platform represents the biggest shift in philosophy for the category since its inception in 1993.

Gone are the 5.0-litre pushrod engines, replaced by a 5.4-litre Coyote V8 as derived from the Mustang road car and a 5.7-litre LTR V8 as seen in various General Motors vehicles.

The cars are lower and wider, with styling cues taken directly from their donor road cars, while aerodynamic downforce has been slashed and many components are now controlled in a bid to spice up the on-track competition.

The biggest change during the off-season revolved around Walkinshaw Andretti United, formerly the Holden Racing Team, and its brand swap to Ford for drivers Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat.

On the driver front, an exciting group of rookies is set to face the starter, with reigning Super2 champion Declan Fraser lining up at Tickford, Kiwi young gun Matthew Payne at Penrite Racing, and Cameron Hill at Truck Assist Racing.

The silly season otherwise was relatively quiet, with only Tim Slade moving to PremiAir Hire Racing, replaced at CoolDrive Racing by Todd Hazelwood.

Calendar-wise, the 2023 Supercars season contracts to 12 events, with Newcastle returning to open the season on March 10-12, while the Sandown 500 has reappeared on the schedule in its traditional Bathurst lead-in slot.

Missing in action is a round in New Zealand, following the closure of Pukekohe Park Raceway, while the championship is bypassing the rural round at Winton.

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