SUPERCARS’ Gen3 platform has come under plenty of scrutiny over the course of this year, including for being a little brittle.
But often for every positive there is a negative and vice versa, and Triple Eight general manager Jamie Whincup insists that is the case with these chassis.
“They are absolutely engineered to protect the driver,” he told V8 Sleuth.
Changes were commissioned prior to Perth to strengthen the chassis after relatively minor incidents made for major rebuild efforts at Newcastle and Albert Park, and there hasn’t been a DNS (did not start) since.
NASCAR, by contrast, seemed to initially err in the other direction with its new-for-2022 cars, with some well-publicised driver impact issues stemming from chassis stiffness – including the concussion-enforced end to 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch’s career.
“We’re verging on the side of protecting the driver more,” said Whincup.
“So a little bit more time in repairing the car for the mechanics, but I’d rather be a little bit that way, looking after the driver, rather than the other.
“Every single incident that happens, we learn from it and get better. But I feel we have rolled the car out in a good place.”
Chassis strength and safety will be under the microscope this weekend given the high-speed and unforgiving nature of Mount Panorama.
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Whincup is looking to complete the Sandown 500/Bathurst 1000 double with Broc Feeney, the duo having tasted victory together last month.
