V8 Supercars approves 2015 models
The FG X V8 Supercar will break cover for the first time at the Sydney Motorsport Park SuperTest next week, with at least three of the new model expected on the grid for Mark Winterbottom, Chaz Mostert and DJR Team Penske's Marcos Ambrose.
Pepsi Max Crew, Nissan Motorsport and teams racing the Holden Commodore have had their respective entries approved for racing following homologation testing by V8 Supercars.
The V8 Supercars Technical team also cross-referenced the historical data of the Volvo S60 and the E63 with that captured during the Sale homologation.
The FG X is a new model to the Ford range while the Nissan Altima and the Holden Commodore have made changes to their packages ahead of the 2015 season.
They will take on the Volvo S60s of Garry Rogers Motorsport and the emerging twin Mercedes-Benz AMG E63s of Erebus Motorsport, starting 2015 at next week's sydney.com SuperTest.
V8 Supercars Sporting and Technical Director David Stuart managed the homologation process at the RAAF base at Sale in Victoria where three cars ran, as well as the V8 Supercars prototype which continues as the baseline for all aerodynamic testing.
Stuart concluded his report of the Sale homologation this week with all five makes meeting the criteria to open the season at next week's SuperTest.
"The week went very smoothly," Stuart said. "The processes and equipment we introduced at the mid-year evaluation last year certainly provided us with additional information to achieve the result.
"The three participating teams had a very positive approach to the process and worked really well together with the technical team.
"The level of competition in 2014 was the closest in the history of V8 Supercars and we have every expectation that will be the case again this year, if not even closer, based on the improved process and the information we gathered."
Winterbottom, David Reynolds and Cameron Waters drove the FG X at Sale while Todd Kelly piloted the Altima, Nick Percat the Commodore and Troy Hazelwood the V8 Supercars prototype.
"The testing at Sale was a step in the right direction in our development of the new car and with the homologation complete we are looking forward to seeing what the car can do at the SuperTest next week," Prodrive Racing (Australia) Team Principal Tim Edwards said.
"We've been in the process of developing the FG X for some time so the opportunity to get the car on the track is exciting. The progress we have seen so far is encouraging so we are hoping to see further developments prior to the first round."
The Holden Commodore, to be raced by Red Bull Racing Australia, the Holden Racing Team, Brad Jones Racing and Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport, has had a rear wing adjustment while the Nissan has undergone aerodynamic modifications.
"There's been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to refine the aero testing procedures, and V8 Supercars' technical department has done a great job with the homologation process," said Nissan Motorsport owner/driver Todd Kelly.
"For Nissan Motorsport, it was good to have an opportunity to further refine the aero package on the Altima V8. With everything ticked off, we now look forward to getting onto the track at the SuperTest and seeing how all of the cars go."
The sydney.com SuperTest will provide a gauge on early form and identify those who are ready to step up to the plate in 2015, including a Sunday SuperShootout which will fire the first bullets in the fiercely competitive Championship.
The sydney.com SuperTest is free on Saturday and Sunday as the first time the V8 Supercars will break cover in 2015 before the Clipsal 500 Adelaide at the end of the month.