The Repco Supercars Championship is already seeing adjustments ahead of the upcoming season, with General Motors teams receiving a mandate to add ballast to their Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 race cars. The change, totaling 4.4kg, is a result of detailed centre of gravity testing conducted by Supercars at Bathurst last Sunday and Monday, involving the Camaro, Ford Mustang and Toyota Supra.
The adjustment requires teams to affix the ballast around the roll-cage tube directly above and forward of the passenger seat. While the alteration is relatively minor, it underscores Supercars’ ongoing efforts to ensure parity between competing manufacturers as Toyota enters the fray alongside Ford and Chevrolet. The focus on achieving a level playing field is crucial as the championship prepares for a new era with increased manufacturer diversity.
Supercars motorsport boss Tim Edwards downplayed the significance of the change, emphasizing a more clinical approach to testing this year. “We did a more detailed version of what we’ve done before,” Edwards explained. “In the past we’ve actually had more cars, but then you end up with a big spread of that’s got a new bumper, that’s got a used bumper, that’s got a new rear guard, that’s got a used rear guard. To be more clinical, we had three cars, all with brand new bodywork, we took all of those individual panels off the car and weighed them, so we were 100 percent confident exactly where they were.”
Edwards continued, stating the difference identified was minimal. “Obviously, that highlighted that there was a small difference. We see only a small difference, we’re talking in millimetres, but actually then the translation is you’ve obviously got to put that into kilograms to create the change, but in millimetres, we’re talking a small amount. The GM guys have made that tweak to their cars.”
Parity Concerns and Pre-Season Testing
The pursuit of parity remains a central theme heading into the new season. With Toyota joining Ford and Chevrolet, ensuring a competitive balance is paramount. Initial pre-season testing at Bathurst saw the top Toyota entry finish 16th in Wednesday’s session, but Edwards cautioned against drawing firm conclusions. “Everybody was keeping their powder dry for tonight,” he said, referring to the Thursday night session on the full track layout. “Yesterday you would run on your worst tyre. Tonight we’ll get a better read of where everybody’s at.”
Anton de Pasquale’s Move to Team 18
The centre of gravity adjustment comes as teams, including Team 18, continue to adapt to changes in the off-season. Anton de Pasquale, who joined Team 18 after four seasons with Dick Johnson Racing, will be a key driver in Chevrolet’s efforts. According to Supercars.com, De Pasquale is now positioned as the lead driver for Chevrolet as Triple Eight no longer supports the brand. He finished eighth in the championship in his first season with Team 18 in 2023.
De Pasquale’s Career Highlights
De Pasquale’s career includes success in various racing disciplines. He won the Australian Kart Championship in 2011 and the Australian Formula Ford Championship in 2013, as noted in his Wikipedia profile. He briefly competed in Formula Renault series in Europe before returning to Australia and joining the Supercars Championship in 2018 with Erebus Motorsport. He has secured nine race wins and 39 podiums in his Supercars career to date.
The upcoming season promises to be a closely contested one, with manufacturers working to optimize their cars within the regulations. The adjustments made to the Camaro, while seemingly minor, demonstrate Supercars’ commitment to maintaining a competitive and equitable championship for all teams. The focus now shifts to further testing and refinement as teams prepare for the season opener.
What impact will these adjustments have on the performance of the Camaro teams? The early stages of the season will be crucial in determining whether the changes have achieved the desired effect. Fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see how the new season unfolds.
Share your thoughts on the changes and predictions for the upcoming season in the comments below!
