Car swaps key in DJR test
DJR tested both Shell Fords on Tuesday
Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale briefly swapped cars
Davison buoyed by "massive" test day
Switching drivers between its two cars was a key part of a “massive" test at Queensland Raceway for the Shell V-Power Racing Team as it aims for its first win of 2024.
Will Davison and Anton De Pasquale, along with respective co-drivers Kai Allen and Tony D’Alberto, hit the track in testing on Tuesday.
Although driving a teammate’s car at a test day is nothing new, Davison said the productive day gave Dick Johnson Racing a chance to have its lead drivers "get a bit of a feel."
“It was a massive day for us actually, which was good,” Davison told Supercars.com.
“Probably one of the biggest tests we've ever had, I reckon — we clocked up nearly 500km! They're like gold, these test days.
“It was a very timely day for us given we’re four rounds into the year. At this stage of the year, you’re just racing, trying to maximise your events.
“We did do a very quick car swap at one stage, just because we have a few different bits and bobs in the cars, like brakes, some steering stuff, some set-up stuff.
“Often, it’s just easier to do a quick swap sometimes and get a bit of a feel. It's always good to get the chance to do that."
The team debriefed its test on Wednesday ahead of a two-week turnaround before the next event at Hidden Valley. Davison said the team ran through its extensive Tuesday program without a hiccup, unlike previous test days for the Ford squad since the introduction of the Gen3 cars.
DJR struggled in the opening rounds of 2023 after a frustrating pre-season program, but rebounded following a solid mid-season test that delivered a Darwin podium for Davison, and Townsville win for De Pasquale.
After a stunning return to form in Taupō, the team managed to stay in the hunt in Perth after the team managed to "simplify" things, according to Davison.
While Allen and D’Alberto got laps in, DJR will will use its third and final test day of the year in the lead-up to the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, where the focus will be on endurance preparation.
"I think everyone's starting to hone in a little bit, more than this time last year when there was just so much going on. We really struggled with figuring issues at test days last year,” Davison said.
“It was definitely a meaningful day. I left there feeling better than I have after the last quite a few tests, to be honest, where I don't really feel like we got much out of it at all.”
DJR tested alongside Matt Stone Racing and PremiAir Nulon Racing at Queensland Raceway, where Triple Eight Race Engineering and Brad Jones Racing completed a wildcard test and rookie test respectively.
Tickford Racing and Penrite Racing tested at Winton Motor Raceway on Wednesday, with Blanchard Racing Team and Team 18 were on track on Thursday.
Davison and De Pasquale are seventh and eighth in the drivers’ points, and DJR fifth in teams, heading to the betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 14-16. Tickets for the event are on sale now. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.
