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HomeNewsFrom Gen3 Mustang to V8 Saab for Randle

From Gen3 Mustang to V8 Saab for Randle

THOMAS Randle will be back behind the wheel of a V8 this weekend as he lines up in the 2023 Victorian State Race Series opener at Sandown.

Rounding out a busy week which began with a Monday shakedown and Tuesday test of his Tickford Racing Gen3 Ford Mustang Supercar, Randle will race his father’s Saab in the Sports Sedans class.

That will involve a 15-minute practice/qualifying hitout before moving into three races across tomorrow and Sunday.

Randle is more than familiar with the Saab, including having completed a full Sports Sedans season in 2015.

The V8 Saab. Pic: Thomas Randle Facebook

Among the cars he’ll be up against is the ex-Tasman Motorsport VZ Commodore Supercar of Francois Habib.

Notable names on the Hyundai Excel entry list at Sandown are former Australian test cricketer Brad Hodge, and Charlie Nash – the son of Tickford Racing co-owner Rod.

Also in action will be Mike Roddy’s Jaguar XJ-S – the car which John Goss and Armin Hahne drove to victory in the 1985 Bathurst 1000 – competing against predominantly Group N machinery in the Historic Touring Cars class.

Randle tips Gen3 mental challenge

The 26-year-old featured on this week’s edition of the Castrol Motorsport News podcast, describing the mentally taxing nature of the Gen3-era Supercars.

“I feel like you are very alert in this car,” he said.

“I’m not saying we weren’t in the old car but – and it’s only been two days in the car – I feel like you could get into a rhythm easier in the old car in a race run whereas this car, there’s a lot more going on.

“And you don’t have front and rear anti-rollbars to tune on the fly.

“It’s kind of, however you start the stint, that’s what you have got at the end apart from less fuel and you can obviously do a brake bias adjustment but that’s about it, the rest of it is on you and the way you use the pedals and the steering wheel… it’s the same for everyone.

“I think the biggest thing is going to be looking after these tyres because, as I said, the cars move around so much more so the rears will definitely be going off sooner.

Pic: Supplied

“So just like any time, you’re going to be driving to a number and I think that number is just going to be slower.

“We are probably going to be driving around at a slower pace to try to conserve these tyres to make them last.

“Who knows what they’re going to be like when we get to Newcastle? Everyone might do an extra stop for tyres, I don’t know, or you’ll just be running around trying to hang on.

“It’s exciting in a way, to see who can manage their tyres best.”

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