DAVID Reynolds is hopeful the new Gen3 Supercars engine formula will eliminate a key weakness holding Grove Racing back.
Using Kelly Racing-build motors with assistance from Walkinshaw Andretti United, the Ford squad has made significant progress this year but still feels it is losing up to two tenths a lap at certain circuits due to shortcomings in the engine department.
Next year, all Ford teams will run identical 5.4-litre Coyote powerplants made by Herrod Performance Engines, while KRE Race Engines will supply those on the Chevrolet side of the divide with its own 5.7-litre product.
That, in theory, should wipe out a variable compared to the current system whereby more engine suppliers are in play (KR, WAU and Tickford Racing in addition to Herrod and KRE).
MORE: Further American testing for Ford Supercar engine
“I suppose one of our biggest weaknesses this year has been our engine and everyone should have similar power next year so that should bring us closer up the field,” Reynolds said on this week’s Castrol Motorsport News podcast.
“And obviously the build quality of our cars is unknown and so forth, so hopefully we can actually benefit from all of the levelling out of everything.
“Allegedly it’s going to be the same but who really knows anymore?
“I have been a part of this sport a long time and all of the background stuff, the political stuff that happens in the background, I don’t understand it but people just wheel their wheelbarrow to try to make their cars faster than everyone else’s to win races.
“I’d like to think it’s going to be similar but who knows.”
Reynolds noted that standardised engines can be a point of contention even at go-karting level when it comes to comparing performance.
The 2017 Bathurst 1000 winner also echoed Ryan Walkinshaw’s concerns that the category’s homologation teams, Dick Johnson Racing (Ford) and Triple Eight Race Engineering (Chevrolet), could be at an advantage.
“They have been running the cars for the past year and a half,” said Reynolds.
“Arguably they do have a leg up just running the cars and no other team has.
“Even though they do get the drivers here and there but that’s not much benefit to us as far as getting all of the data and running it, trying to understand it.
“Those guys definitely do have an advantage, or some advantage.”
Reynolds enters Round 12 of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship, this weekend’s Gold Coast 500, perched seventh in the points.
Next year, he will be teammates with rookie Matt Payne, who is replacing the retiring Lee Holdsworth in Car #10.
