Van Gisbergen, Waters cautious of tyre 'lottery'

Shane van Gisbergen and Cam Waters both believe mixed tyre racing in Townsville offers a "lottery".

The NTI Townsville 500 will be headlined by dual 250km races at a circuit traditionally tough on tyres.

For 2022, the races will be run with multiple tyre compounds.

Drivers will be handed on set of Super Soft tyres for each race, as was the case for Sydney in March.

That race offered several different strategies, with drivers using the compounds at different times.

Drivers will not be able to run with the Super Softs prior to the races.

Rather, the first time they use the softest compound will be during Saturday’s Race 19.

Points leader van Gisbergen is unsure what will happen come race time.

"It’s going to be a bit of a lottery with Hard and Super Soft and not getting to drive on it [until the race]," van Gisbergen said.

"I don’t really know what’s going to happen.

"That’s probably going to be pretty interesting, but I have no idea what’s going to happen."

Waters, who defeated van Gisbergen in last year’s Townsville sprint finale, says Safety Cars will also play a vital role.

It was Waters who gambled on the Super Softs in last year’s 250km race in Sydney.

He built a lead on the Super Softs before van Gisbergen mowed him down in the closing laps on his own set.

"I think it’s going to be a lot of fun on that Super Soft for the first 10 laps, and then it won’t be much fun after that," Waters said.

"It’ll be a little bit of a lottery. If a Safety Car comes at the wrong time, it can really help or hinder you.

"You’ll see people putting that Super Soft on at different points in the race.

"You’re just going to have to hope the Safety Car goes your way if there is a Safety Car."

Cars will hit the track for dual practice sessions on Friday. Purchase your NTI Townsville 500 tickets now.