SUPERCARS’ Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro prototype car hit the track for this first time this week behind closed doors, V8 Sleuth can reveal.
The secret shakedown took place at Queensland Raceway on Wednesday with Triple Eight young gun Broc Feeney behind the wheel of the car, which was presented in plain grey.
NEWS: How Supercars title can be decided in Sydney
Although a landmark day for the category ahead of the Camaro replacing the Holden Commodore in 2023, the test was undertaken without fanfare amid efforts to keep its final look secret.
Only glimpses of the Camaro and its sister Gen3 Ford Mustang while under build have been teased by the category ahead of the official launch of the two Gen3 cars at Bathurst on December 3.
The Camaro’s first test had originally been slated for Tuesday but, after being mentioned in last weekend’s Sydney SuperSprint broadcast, was delayed.
A Supercars statement on Monday stated the test had been rescheduled for next week, citing the need for more preparation time.
But the Triple Eight-built Camaro shared the track on Wednesday with the Dick Johnson Racing-built Gen3 Mustang, which had tested for the first time the previous week.
While the Mustang’s initial test took place with Alex Davison aboard, Ash Walsh took over driving duties for the second outing as Davison had flown to Sydney for DJR testing duties.
Among the tasks on Wednesday, Supercars continued evaluation of its new electronic assisted-shift system, with paddles understood to have been fitted to the Camaro.
The Mustang ran paddle-shifters last week but is believed to have had its second outing with an electronically operated stick-shift.
The category is yet to make a decision on whether it will adopt the paddles in the final ruleset, which will debut at the start of the 2023 season.
Supercars’ head of motorsport Adrian Burgess declared Wednesday’s running a success.
“Everything went as planned, it was a successful day,” he said. “We rolled out nearly 200 kilometres relatively trouble-free, marking a successful shakedown.”
It’s understood the Camaro and plain-white Mustang will both now be given special liveries and taken to Bathurst for their official launch during the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.
LISTEN: Castrol Motorsport News Podcast – Triple Eight debate, Gen3 testing
