Co-drivers wary of match fitness with crucial enduro changes
Teams free to choose their starting drivers in Ryco Enduro Cup
Rule forcing teams to start primary drivers was scrapped after one year
Testing restrictions have given co-drivers limited chances to practice starts
The removal of the requirement to start primary drivers in the upcoming Ryco Enduro Cup races has been widely praised among the Supercars paddock.
Brought in for last year's Sandown 500, many viewed the rule as removing a key strategic element in the two long distance races, ultimately contributing to much tamer on-track affairs, with everyone effectively forced onto the same strategy.
The rule has been scrapped this year, with the choice of starting driver now back to being at the sole discretion of teams.
However, with co-drivers having not conducted a start procedure in race conditions in what will be two years by the time the AirTouch 500 at The Bend rolls around, it could present a different sort of headache for teams.
Whilst categories like Super2 and Carrera Cup utilise standing starts, other categories that are popular among co-drivers such as GT World Challenge, GT4, and Trans Am all feature rolling starts.
The heavy restriction on in-season testing, which saw all teams and drivers attend a mid-season test day just two days following the Ipswich Super 440, also gives co-drivers extremely limited opportunities to practice starts.
Veteran co-drivers James Moffat, Tony D'Alberto, and Lee Holdsworth all discussed the rule change in a special co-driver edition of the Drivers Only podcast.
Whilst all three agreed that the change in rules is for the better, they are intrigued as to how good of a start co-drivers will get if they are called upon, with only Moffat admitting he practiced starts at the Ipswich test.
"I snuck a couple in," said long-time Tickford co-driver Moffat, who will partner Thomas Randle this season.
"I saw you [Holdsworth] at the airport and you were like, 'Oh shit, we forgot to do that!'"
"That was on our cards for the day, we were going to do it, but we never got around to it," said Holdsworth, who will team up with David Reynolds in the #20 TRADIE Energy Camaro.
D'Alberto, who shifts across the Dick Johnson Racing garage to join Will Davison, added: "I'm just assuming I'm not doing the start, we didn't do any. It wasn't even spoken about.
"If I do a start, I'll be shitting myself, because I haven't done one in two years or whatever."
The Ryco Enduro Cup begins at the AirTouch 500 at The Bend from September 12-14, before the Repco Bathurst 1000 from October 9-12. Tickets are on sale now.
