AUSTRALIAN Racing Group co-owner Barry Rogers believes the characteristics of Supercars’ Gen3 cars have somewhat played into the hands of the National Trans Am Series.
The Gen3 ruleset is characterised by a massive reduction in downforce, with cars sliding around more than their finely tuned, aero-sensitive predecessors.
That’s led some to suggest Trans Am is now perhaps a closer match to the driving style of a 2023-spec Ford Mustang or Chevrolet Camaro Supercar than the ZB Commodores and Gen2 Mustangs on the Super2 grid.
“Look, sure it is left-hand-drive versus right-hand-drive, it’s H-pattern gearbox, but I think the dynamics of the car are probably closer to a Gen3 car than potentially a Super2 car is,” Rogers told V8 Sleuth.
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Trans Am has arguably become the leading category on the 2023 SpeedSeries bill, with a strong field featuring the likes of James Moffat, Owen Kelly, Ben Grice, Jaylyn Robotham, Lochie Dalton and Tyler Everingham.
Round 2 of the season unfolds this weekend at Phillip Island, where TCR Australia and S5000 will have far smaller grids.
Rogers said a combination of car characteristics, racing laps and experienced benchmarks made Trans Am an appealing option for those preparing for a Supercars co-drive (as both Moffat and Everingham are for Tickford Racing) or chasing a future Gen3 opportunity.
“Guys like Tyler and Jaylyn in the Trans Am, I can see why they’re doing it,” he said.
“And you’re competing against some seasoned campaigners.
“Moff is there, Owen Kelly, he has been around a long time and in those cars is very, very experienced, and Grice has done a lot of miles in them – if you’re banging doors with those guys, it’s certainly very good for these younger drivers trying to forge their way into Supercars.”
