THERE will be no change to Supercars’ existing suite of Dunlop tyres for the 2024 season.
Dunlop publicly declared itself open to investigating a more Gen3-specific tyre earlier this year, but V8 Sleuth has learnt a decision has been made to carry forward the current product.
It’s understood that in the current climate, an extensive lead time would have been required to develop and produce a new range.
There is however seemingly a willingness to do so if need be, leaving the door open for 2025.
Tyres have been one of various facets to come under scrutiny this season, with various drivers pointing to the rubber as holding back the racing spectacle.
The topic reared its head again last week following comments made by Shane van Gisbergen on the Dale Jr Download podcast.
“The qualifying (in Supercars) is awesome, but the racing sucks. It’s so boring,” said the three-time champion, who placed 10th in yesterday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Indianapolis.
“You’re driving around at 30 percent trying to keep the tyres and everybody is just following each other.
“All the parts are the same and the car has a very narrow set-up window. Everyone is running the same set-up, basically.
“And there’s a minimum tyre pressure of 17 pound (psi), so everyone goes out at 17, (the tyres) come on at the same time, drive around at the same pace.
“The tyre (pressure) just explodes because it’s running too high. And you just follow each other around.
“It’s mind-numbing. I came (to NASCAR) and the race is just a hustle the whole time, you’re driving flat out. That’s what I love.”
The main change from last year has been a general move to using softer compounds than before; for example, shifting to the soft at Bathurst. The only time the hard compound has been used all season was at Albert Park.
Teams have been provided new-for-2023 wet rubber, which is softer than its predecessor, but there has been little opportunity to gather learnings from that in a competitive environment as yet.
