Gen3 aerodynamic parity process underway
The process of achieving aerodynamic parity between the Gen3 specification Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is underway.
A number of key milestones have already been achieved in the Gen3 project.
Already, Triple Eight Race Engineering and PACE Engineering have revealed chassis prototypes of the Camaro and Mustang.
Late last week, computer-aided designs (CAD) of the chassis prototype were released.
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Speaking to select media, Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess said UK-based engineering group D2H Advanced Technologies has begun to work with Supercars and its Vehicle Control Aerodynamic Testing (VCAT) programme ahead of Gen3’s 2022 debut.
D2H gains accurate simulations through the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and artificial intelligence (AI).
Homologation teams Triple Eight (Red Bull Ampol Racing) and Dick Johnson Racing (Shell V-Power Racing Team) have already supplied CAD models to D2H.
"A lot of work is going on in the background with the two homologation teams, the steering group and the engineering group," Burgess explained.
WATCH: FIRST LOOK AT CAD RENDERS
"Some things are still being designed. These processes are quite long at the moment.
"The two homologation teams are currently focusing on the fitment of their body to the control chassis. Both manufacturers have presented their final version of CAD to Supercars for evaluation.
“We’re working with D2H in the UK going through paritising and equalising the two shapes, in downforce, drag and aero balance, so that they’re in the same ballpark when we do hit the circuit for initial testing ahead of a full VCAT.
“The two homologation teams at the moment are just focusing on the tooling and the moulding to produce the prototype panels.”
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Burgess also confirmed that prototype testing has been targeted for August at Sydney Motorsport Park; while hesitant to lock that in, but was delighted with the look of the new cars in line with increased road relevance and the level of road car DNA incorporated in the styling.
“They look sensational,” he said.
"We’re not quite ready to put them on view yet. Both the manufacturers need to give us permission to do that, but they will carry far more road car DNA than we’ve ever seen on a Supercar before.
"I don’t think anyone’s going to be disappointed when they see them.
"It doesn’t have a great big rear wing on it anymore because we’re not trying to create circa 400, 450 kilos of downforce anymore; we’ll be down at 150 kilos or around that area.
"The number isn’t the be all end all. It’s about getting the parity between the two and keeping the right amount of drag on the cars.”
The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to the Northern Territory for the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown across June 18-20. Tickets are available here.
The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo, and will be broadcast live and free on Seven.
