Soft tyre set to spice up racing at Sandown

This weekend’s Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint will see Dunlop’s Soft tyre compound used for the first time in 2021.

In 2021, there will be no mixed compound events, meaning only one compound will be used at each race meeting.

It comes after events in 2020 feature multiple compounds, which led to mixed up grids and unpredictable results.

For the first time, the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will see three different Dunlop control tyre compounds used.

The Hard tyre was used at the season-opening Repco Mt Panorama 500, and will be used at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint and the only enduro of the season, the Repco Bathurst 1000.

The brand new Super Soft compound will be used at the two circuits that traditionally produce the lowest degradation, at Winton and Hidden Valley.

The Softs will be used at the remainder, beginning with this weekend’s Sandown event, which will feature three 36-lap sprint races.

Tasmania, The Bend, Townsville, Sydney Motorsport Park, Perth and the Gold Coast will also use the Soft compound.

The Hard compound was used at Mount Panorama

Soft tyres allow for considerably faster lap times, but degrade in quality at a much quicker rate.

Tyre life will be a key consideration at Sandown, given the nature of the circuit.

The 3.1km circuit features large kerbs at Turns 2 and 3, with some comparing the venue to a street circuit without concrete walls.

Given the long straights and high speeds, vibrations will also be a factor.

Critically, the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint is a two-day event; there are just two half-hour practice sessions on Saturday morning before drivers head into ARMOR All Qualifying for Race 3.

Given the little track time, expect drivers and teams to be aggressive from the get-go on Saturday morning.

The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to Victoria this weekend at the Penrite Oil Sandown SuperSprint. Tickets are on sale now.

The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo. Check out the full weekend schedule here.