[VASC19R7R8]Tyrepower Tasmania, 5-7Apr

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by Tourer

LOL at anyone drawing any definitive conclusions from practice sessions - particularly for a race meeting with parc ferme in place after qualifying. Meaning that some may not be intending to run a "full on" Q setup and so may have not tested it, some tried different warm up techniques for tyres, some ran full car sets of new tyres, some didn't, the list is long.
Race weekend would be more definitive, scheduled aero test between here and PI more definitive again and PI itself yet more definitive.
We'll see what pans out. At least now they all have the same CoG so that reasoning / excuse / answer has now been resolved - bat on.

The aero test was reported as cancelled this week due to time constraints between Tassie and PI, unless that has been changed again.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by mayhem

No, theyd already decided they were testing COG after the Adelaide round: COG test after Albert Park

Yep, & they brought in the cog rules after 2 rounds, compared to the composite panel change (to address CoG) after one round last year.

In other words, pretty similar situation.

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

The second DJRTP car is usually several positions behind the lead one.
They are now almost on par.
Seems odd....

Considering the weight transfer would have negated some of their suspension settings and it's the first time the mustang has been at this track it's not that odd really.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by Driver TBA

Bodywork tucking was just a rewording of an already existing rule. It listed a maximum width, but not minimum.

They should have done COG testing after 2 rounds last year. Or better yet, before the start of the season. Simple solution would have been to ballast up the ZB, then review it at years end with the new Mustang and revised Altima.
Would have saved a shed load of money, but Roland had us all believe, there was no advantage with composite panels....

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agree on the body tucking and depending on aero testing, some similar rewording might or might not be needed for this year.

Composite panels were permitted on the Fords and Nissans from the time they were permitted on the ZB (sometime late 2017) but neither Nissan nor Ford teams took it up. When the ZB was quick at Adelaide, Nissan and Ford teams took up the allowance to run composite panels.

I do think that if the rig was available to do it last year then with hindsight it would have been a good time to compare CoG across the teams and make some changes.

Kelly racing clearly have a rig to do the testing now but whether they had that rig last year I don't know.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by bluesport

The aero test was reported as cancelled this week due to time constraints between Tassie and PI, unless that has been changed again.

Thanks mate - I missed that and not surprised.

Would make more sense to grab the relevant cars out of parc ferme on Sunday at PI (an aero dependant track) and test them in that "as raced" configuration.

That was the approach taken when TEGA did the first aero tests back in the day and may well be the way to go now.

[bluesport]

Originally Posted by Tourer

Thanks mate - I missed that and not surprised.

Would make more sense to grab the relevant cars out of parc ferme on Sunday at PI (an aero dependant track) and test them in that "as raced" configuration.

That was the approach taken when TEGA did the first aero tests back in the day and may well be the way to go now.

It was said that they were intending to aero test this week because the facility at Monash University was available, so it may have to be rescheduled sometime into the future when it becomes available again, it appears that they just can't turn up and test when it suits them.

[Tourer]

Originally Posted by bluesport

It was said that they were intending to aero test this week because the facility at Monash University was available, so it may have to be rescheduled sometime into the future when it becomes available again, it appears that they just can't turn up and test when it suits them.

Of course not, anyone would need to book. Clearly there was a window this week but the teams couldn't get back from Tassie in time for it or something like that.

Using Monash is interesting - only up to 180kmh in wind speed, fixed floor BUT it does have a turntable so that should provide at least an indication of any differences in lateral aero.

[Driver TBA]

Originally Posted by Tourer

I do think that if the rig was available to do it last year then with hindsight it would have been a good time to compare CoG across the teams and make some changes.



Kelly racing clearly have a rig to do the testing now but whether they had that rig last year I don't know.

Rigs and testing methods were available last year.


According to Mark Skaife on Trackside. Teams have been internally testing COG on their own cars for years. Below is a pic from HRT 2003, testing for and aft COG.

The other pic is of GRM's COG testing rig circa 2017. According to Skaife this was the actual rig Supercars used for last week's testing.

Appears to be HD fish scales strapped to a forklift. Very high-tech stuff.....

Pics courtesy of Trackside footage.



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[Umai Naa]

One must also understand the changes in personnel at Supercars in the recent past.

The installation of Mr Burgess within catagory management has been the catalyst for a lot of rule changes and technical clamp-downs.

Whilst teams and ill-informed fans bemoan the immediate downsides, if there are any at all... It's a good thing looking into the long term for the sport.

The homologation process has been too open to interpretation, meaning teams and manufacturers had to get political so as to get things passed.

Remember the dispensations for flat-plane cranks, well after Nissan had their motor approved? The engine COG was implemented.

Now everyone has gone to composite panels, we have another COG rule to shore things up. If anyone ever felt truely surprised by it being brought in, they were seriously delusional. It is a parity series.

[Driver TBA]

Originally Posted by Umai Naa

If anyone ever felt truely surprised by it being brought in, they were seriously delusional. It is a parity series.

I'm only surprised it's only just been Implemented. Outside observers could tell there was an issue this time last year. Surely V8SC officials could see the writing on the wall? Should have been addressed then, or at years end before people tore up money on new cars.
Clamping rolls of roof flashing to roll cages fixes the advantage, but looks very B grade.

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[Umai Naa]

It's a new year, new people, new car to deal with.

[mayhem]

Given it was in the second qualifying session (Top 15), how come Whincup causing a red flag puts him back to last? Shouldn't he be in 15th?

[Umai Naa]

Yeah, that'd make more sense.

[GTRMagic]

[Forda]

So much hoopla for one pole in one race.

[Driver TBA]

Originally Posted by mayhem

Given it was in the second qualifying session (Top 15), how come Whincup causing a red flag puts him back to last? Shouldn't he be in 15th?

Must have just been a timing mistake. He started 15th, but now dead last thanks to either brain or brake fade...

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[Umai Naa]

Started 15th, clashed with Mostert early in the race and damaged a tyre.

Then dropped 2 laps in the process.

[Armco Bender]

Anytime soon Stanaway will be up the pointy end of the field....quietly confident still...

[Jerico]

Originally Posted by Forda

So much hoopla for one pole in one race.

When you're part of a team that's not tasted success in a long time or maybe never, a small milestone like that is what keeps you going. Lifts the team to keep believing and keep up the fight. I was hoping they got a podium as the sport needs those people and more of them. Gives your flash team someone to beat ah.

[GTRMagic]

Hard on himself. At least he takes the blame personally rather than pointing fingers towards nameless faceless ‘we’ like others do...

[Joe5619]

Originally Posted by Forda

So much hoopla for one pole in one race.

After over 4 years being in the sport, it's the teams first pole. And the drivers first in 1000 days!! That's nothing to celebrate to you?

[Starion13]

I agree, Its a milestone for the team. Small things mean a lot when you been bashing away for a long time. Earth shattering no, but a tonic and confidence booster for Frosty and the team - absolutely. Its the "hey we aren't hopeless after all" factor. Drivers don't forget how to drive but they can start to believe they have lost the speed they once had.

[JAFA851]

I can't see why everyone is hammering Jack Smith for holding people up. Both times he was over on one side of the track, leaving room, so what's the problem? You can't expect him to pull over onto the grass and park up just because he's being lapped, he's got his own race to run as well. Winterbottom can't blame Smith for losing a second on that lap, he can only blame himself. He's never been that aggressive as a racer, he's too soft and always has been. Look at SvG, that's how you pass people and not lose even a tenth of a second. And I don't now where McLaughlin is coming from either, sounds like the success is getting to his head if he expects people to just "get out of the way". Smith said he knew Scotty was there, and even put the indicator on a couple of times to let him know which side to pass on. Can't ask for much more than that.

I thought for a wildcard he did a pretty good job, didn't qualify or finish the race last which is a pretty good result considering the difference between Supercars and Super 2, and looking at the results some other wildcards have had over the last couple of years.

[mayhem]

Totally agree. For Winterbottom to blame Smith for not being able to hold onto third is the stuff of pixies in the garden. 100 times out of a 100 SVG would have passed him yesterday given their abilities, equipment and tyre life. Frosty might want to look at the time his pitstop took if wants to throw stones at anyone.

[mayhem]

Good luck to Mclaughlin with Stanaway starting just behind him.