SUPERCARS general manager of motorsport Tim Edwards insists there are no concerns about main game stars being outpaced by Super2 youngsters at Mount Panorama.
The fastest time on Friday at the Thrifty Bathurst 500 was set by Super2 ace Kai Allen during opening Super2 practice.
His 2:07.5232s stood the test of time, with the best lap in Repco Supercars Championship practice a 2:07.5507s set by Will Brown.
The Gen3 Camaros and Mustangs are lapping the Mountain considerably slower than last October – where Brodie Kostecki threatened to log a 2:03s – following the switch from Dunlop’s soft tyre to the hard compound.
That was inspired by a desire to facilitate better racing, after the 2023 Bathurst 1000 was hindered by tyre conservation.
Edwards is comfortable with the pace drop-off, as long as it means the action in race trim is better.
“We’re not the slightest bit interested in times. All we want is good racing,” he told V8 Sleuth.
As for comparisons to Super2?
“They’re Super2. It’s different regulations,” Edwards explained.
“For us, it’s what’s the best tyre for the best racing.”
Supercars will make a decision after this weekend on whether the soft or hard tyre will be used at the 2024 Bathurst 1000.
Edwards also indicated parity-tyre reviews began immediately after practice yesterday.
“That (Practice 2) is probably the best session for us to analyse because they all ran green tyres at the end, so we have got some great data from that,” he said.
Supercars qualifying is scheduled to start at 10:45am AEDT this morning.
