Whincup Backs Format Change at Clipsal 500

V8 Supercars Champion Jamie Whincup has praised the new format for season opener, the Clipsal 500 Adelaide.

“It’s a smarter thing, and makes it physically easier for the drivers,” Whincup told v8supercars.com.au.

“I’m all for physical competition and survival of the fittest, but I think it’s a bit silly to have such a massive race for the first event of the year. So I encourage the 125-split, I think it’s a good thing.”

Today we see two 125km, 39-lap races, with a longer 250km, 78-lap run for tomorrow’s feature race.

In previous years, the meeting has had two punishing 250-kilometre legs. And while some drivers and fans have been dubious of the change – made to streamline the various event formats and spice up the racing with an additional start, finish and twilight timeslot – seven-time Clipsal race winner Whincup believes it is the way to go.

“(Before) Adelaide you’ve had months out of the car … It’s a big shock to the system. It’d be like a non-runner going out and doing 10km on day one, it just knocks you around a fair bit…

“I’m all for format changes, I think that’s a great way of keeping everyone on their toes and keeping it fresh. I’m a big fan of them mixing it up.”

The ‘SuperStreet’ format will carry over to two other events in 2014, running at Townsville and Homebush for the V8 Supercars grand finale. While traditionally both circuits have hosted longer races, the Townsville event grows to a 500km race meeting, meaning more on-track action for north Queensland fans.

As we saw yesterday, Saturday’s starting positions are determined during two 15-minute qualifying sessions, while Sunday’s grid is decided by a 20-minute session and ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout.

The Saturday ‘split’ means the second race will run in the twilight – another idea Whincup completely supports. 

“I’m a big fan of night racing as well, I think it suits the world at the moment,” the Red Bull racer said.

“Everyone’s so busy at the moment trying to earn a dollar and spend as much time as they can with their families and what not, so I think it makes sense for people to come out and watch good old fashion racing – a bit of door banging V8 action at night.”

Holden Racing Team’s James Courtney felt that while the Clipsal 500 wouldn’t be as physically demanding as in the past, the shorter legs shouldn’t be underestimated.

Using last year’s 60/60 split races as an example, the 2010 V8 Supercars Champion said it could be difficult to switch back into race mode after a short break.

“Those split 60/60s were probably more challenging than a lot of the other ones – there’s so much heat circulating in the car, you stop and get out of it and back in and there’s not much time,” Courtney said. 

The later twilight timeslot also means a different plan for recovery.

“With it being a bit later in the evening it gives less recovery time for the next day,” Courtney noted.

“They are pretty challenging but we changed the way we have trained slightly for it and it’s same for everyone, so it’s just what we have to do.”

Whincup’s teammate Craig Lowndes starts alongside him on the front row in Race One, while Lowndes has McLaughlin – debuting his Volvo S60 at a race event – next to him at the front of the field for twilight Race Two, with Whincup directly behind in third.

Courtney qualified fourth and eighth for the first two V8 Supercars races of the 2014 season.