S5000 management has announced an increase in the amount of push-to-pass made available to drivers during this weekend’s Adelaide decider.
The system, which is designed to improve racing and aid overtaking, debuted last month at the Gold Coast 500.
It works by limiting the driver’s access to full throttle – which is otherwise capped at 90 percent throughout racing conditions.
At Surfers Paradise, six uses per race were allowed, each of which would remain activated until the driver hit the brakes.
For Adelaide, that will increase to 90 seconds of use per race, no matter how many times push-to-pass is turned off (either by braking, or by switching it off manually).
“The revisions to the push-to-pass system for Adelaide will introduce more strategy into the racing and we think will make for a better product,” said Stefan Millard, team manager of the category’s technical partner Garry Rogers Motorsport.
“Much like how it is used in IndyCar racing, drivers can pick and choose how they utilise it rather than being stuck with a set number of deployments per race.
“They can turn it off when they have pushed the button, so if they see the car in front using it, they can save their time for later.
“Similarly, it allows the system to be used on shorter straights to set up a pass for later in the lap.
“At the Gold Coast we were aiming for approximately 0.4 to 0.5 seconds gain on the straight and Adelaide will be similar.
“We will continue to tune the system throughout the weekend.”
Cars will show when push-to-pass is deployed via a flashing rear rain light.
The VALO Adelaide 500 begins on Thursday; Nathan Herne enters with an 18-point S5000 Tasman Series lead over Joey Mawson.
The 15-strong field will have reduced horsepower (560 down to 475) due to Adelaide’s FIA Grade 3 track licence.
