'Different beast' Gen3 car a 'handful': Davison

Will Davison has described the Gen3 Ford Mustang GT prototype as a "different beast" to the current generation Supercar. 

Davison was one of four Supercars drivers present at the first day of testing of the updated Gen3 prototypes at Queensland Raceway on Monday. 

Both Gen3 homologation teams - Triple Eight Race Engineering and Dick Johnson Racing - were in attendance at the Ipswich circuit.

Davison was joined by Triple Eight duo Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney, as well as former Matt Stone Racing driver Zane Goddard.

Goddard was the first driver to sample both cars on Monday.

Monday's running was the first for the prototypes since the addition of suspension upgrades and anti-roll bars.

Davison, a veteran of nearly 500 race starts, liked what he saw.

"I would say, immediately, they are a grunty, rear-wheel-drive car," the Shell V-Power Racing Team driver told Supercars.com.

"They are still a touring car, but in terms of some of the finite details, [they are] very, very different cars.

"I think that's exciting. I think it's good.

"Nothing will translate, I think to what we know in the past, how we drive the car will be different, how we set the car up will be different.

"They are a handful; you're busy behind the wheel, but it's kind of exciting.

"It's a very, very different machine, very different beast, a lot of different componentry in the cars to what any of us has ever used before.

"Everyone keeps asking, 'Is it better? Is it good? Is it bad?' It's an impossible question.

"Supercars have set a target of what they want to achieve with Gen3, and this is the product we have.

'"It's different, it's an absolutely different animal, a different beast, there are different sensations for anything I've experienced in the 15 years in the game.

"But where the cars have evolved, the DNA is very much team specific and Supercar specific."

Davison also expressed his delight in the new-look cars, which will debut in 2023. 

"I think obviously, the silhouette, the look of the car, I think stands out," Davison continued.

"I think that's been a big tick and a big win on both sides of the fence.

"I think it’s going to be a great battle between blue and red, that sort of tribal rivalry that's been going around for many years is still well and truly alive, if not even fiercer, and a new age of red versus blue.

"It's exciting. This is the hero car, and we have moved a long way forward with engine development, the cars are much more relevant, I think to what people can drive.

"Obviously the aim is for the racing to be good. I think it's going to be incredibly close.

"Everyone's got the same opportunity, and we're going to have to man-handle these cars a lot."

The prototypes are set to complete another day of testing on Tuesday, ahead of two further test days early next week. 

Both test days are open for public viewing at Queensland Raceway. 

The Gen3 Camaro and Mustang will make their racing debut in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.

On-track exhibitions of the Gen3 cars will be carried out at Supercars events throughout this year.

The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle in March. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

CLICK HERE to view the 13-round draft 2022 calendar.