The Camaro, under Chevrolet’s banner, continued its unbeaten run throughout the weekend, securing eight out of nine possible podium finishes in three races.
Concern grew further when the top nine finishers in the second race were all Camaros, while the brand took the first five spots in the third race.
Ford showed glimmers of potential, with Cam Waters gaining a pole position and a promising start to the first race. However, an unfortunate engine fire significantly hindered Waters’ race performance only five laps in, leaving many to speculate on whether his Mustang could have effectively managed its rear tires for a win.
See Also:
Darwin Supercars: Feeney Tops Triple Eight One-Two
Darwin Supercars: Le Brocq Claims Second Career Victory
The chief issue for the Mustangs when compared to the Camaros has been rear tire longevity, leading to a lot of focus on engine efficiency and manageability. Yet, the comprehensive victory by Chevrolet in Darwin has escalated worries that the problem may extend beyond the engine, suggesting possible disparities in aerodynamics or aerodynamic balance.
Waters, in a conversation with F1 Flow.com regarding performance equality, dismissed drivability as the issue. He stated, “We’ve made improvements on the drivability front and obviously the engines aren’t the same when you’ve got different gear cuts going on. It’s more than just the engine… [The Camaros] have got more rear [grip] and a bigger margin to work in.”
Following the day’s second race, several Ford team chiefs, including Tickford CEO Tim Edwards, Grove Racing team principal David Cauchi, Walkinshaw Andretti United team principal Bruce Stewart, and WAU tech guru Carl Faux, were seen in deep discussion.
Edwards voiced the difficulty of pinpointing the exact reason for the apparent performance inequality, though the underperformance of the Mustang was evident. He went on to voice his bewilderment, acknowledging the team’s lack of competitiveness without any concrete explanation.
Bruce Stewart commented that the Ford teams are collaboratively identifying a solution and considering any necessary discussions with Supercars and its technical department. He added that isolated instances of success, such as Waters’ pole, should not be mistaken for equal performance, particularly given the number of struggling Ford drivers.
“The real story,” Stewart said, “is the quantity of quality drivers that you see floating into mediocrity… It just seems… confusing.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Supercar performance disparity
What was the outcome of the recent supercar races?
Chevrolet’s Camaro dominated the recent supercar races, securing eight out of nine possible podium finishes. The top nine finishers in the second race and the first five in the third were all Camaros.
Who was the standout driver for Ford?
Cam Waters was the standout for Ford, gaining a pole position and making a promising start to the first race. However, an engine fire five laps in significantly hindered his performance.
What has been the main issue for the Mustangs compared to the Camaros?
The Mustangs have been having issues with rear tire longevity, which led to a lot of focus on engine efficiency and drivability. However, concerns have escalated that the problem extends beyond the engine, suggesting possible disparities in aerodynamics or aerodynamic balance.
What actions are the Ford teams considering to address their performance issues?
Ford team chiefs are working together to identify solutions and considering discussions with Supercars and its technical department. They are sharing more information than usual due to their collective level of frustration.
What does Bruce Stewart say about the performance of Ford teams?
Bruce Stewart, team principal of Walkinshaw Andretti United, said that while isolated successes exist, the real concern is the number of quality drivers underperforming. He finds the situation to be confusing.
More about Supercar performance disparity
- Darwin Supercars: Feeney Tops Triple Eight One-Two
- Darwin Supercars: Le Brocq Claims Second Career Victory
- Supercar Performance Analysis
- Discussion on Supercar Performance Disparity
- Mustang’s Performance in Recent Races
7 comments
Chevs all the way! Knew we had the upper hand, but this is just awesome.
Waters would’ve won that first race if not for the engine fire. Just bad luck, happens you know…
i’m just confused. why are the mustangs struggling so much?? doesn’t make sense…
fellas, you cant just look at results, there’s a whole science behind it. Aero, engine, tires… they all matter.
This disparity issue needs to be seriously addressed by the Supercar technical department. Can’t have a one horse race!
Man, never thought I’d see the day where the Mustangs are getting beaten so bad. We need a comeback, pronto!
Gotta say the camaro’s rear grip has been impressive. they got that right at least. mustangs, get your act together!