How Gen3 car has changed since Bathurst demo
Anton De Pasquale says the Gen3 Ford Mustang GT prototype has already developed since he last drove the car.
De Pasquale turned laps in the Ford at Queensland Raceway as prototype testing continued in earnest on Friday.
Supercars conducted its third and fourth days of prototype testing in 2022 this week.
There, De Pasquale had the honour of helping the Ford pass over 1000km of running.
His morning run was cut short after he found the Turn 6 sand, but already, he had enjoyed time in a car which had been developed since he cut laps in Bathurst.
De Pasquale and Shane van Gisbergen had the honour of turning the first public laps aboard the two prototypes at December’s Repco Bathurst 1000.
Fast forward two months, and the cars have received a number of updates, as well as the addition of an anti roll-bar system.
Having finally turned laps in anger on Friday, De Pasquale was pleased with the outcome.
“That was a demonstration to show everyone what the future is,” the Shell V-Power Racing Team driver told Supercars.com.
“Now there has been a fair bit of testing, I’ve jumped in and a lot has changed.
“The way it feels, the way it drives, all the little driver things.
“There’s still a long year to go, things will change again in the next six months.
“It’s good to be a part of that process.”
Veteran drivers who have cut laps in the new cars have been delighted with how they are performing, considering the lack of downforce.
Notably, De Pasquale’s teammate Will Davison said the car is a “beast” and Tim Slade said it is “aggressive”. On a whole, James Courtney believes that will favour the older drivers.
Craig Lowndes even got behind the wheel of the Camaro, and was excited by the performance.
De Pasquale noted how there were major differences between Gen2 and Gen3 machinery, buying into his colleagues’ assessments.
“Driving the car in anger for the first time has been cool,” De Pasquale said.
“Obviously in Bathurst, you’re not going to hang the car out sideways across the mountain.
“You can do that here [at Queensland Raceway] and get more of a feel for it.
“Between the [Project Blueprint] and current car, there was a connection.
“The Gen3 car doesn’t have much connection to the current car as such.
“The grip has dropped a lot, so it’s about fine-tuning that.
“Once teams get a hold of it and change springs, tyre pressures and all that stuff, we’ll find lap time.”
Cars will be tested at Winton with greater southern teams’ input before they hit the track at the Sydney season opener.
Having returned to the wheel after missing the first round of testing, De Pasquale turned his attention to helping the car progress ahead of its 2023 debut.
“Clicking over 1000 is great, the guys have done an awesome job with reliability,” he said.
“The thing’s still together and it’s still performing, which is a big box ticked.
“It’s good to be driving, hanging onto the steering wheel and getting into the groove again."
The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Sydney in March. CLICK HERE to purchase your tickets.
