Gizzy: 'FG X is a contender'

Former Ford flier turned Holden hero Shane van Gisbergen has predicted the new Falcon FG X will be a force in the 2015 V8 Supercars Championship.

The Kiwi star made his forecast after finishing fourth and third in the two V8 Supercars races at the Formula One Rolex Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park yesterday, after being unable to match the Pepsi Max Falcons of Prodrive Racing Australia's Mark Winterbottom and Chaz Mostert, which finished one-two in both races after qualifying first and second on the grid.

Having raced the FG Falcon for Stone Brothers Racing and then watched the performance of the New Generation version of the Ford close up from the seat of his Tekno Autosports Holden Commodore VF for the last two years, van Gisbergen says he can already see the improvement in the FG X brought about by its new aerodynamic package.

"They are doing a lot of things different (to the FG X) and they did need it," van Gisbergen said.

"When I was at Stone Brothers Racing we always ran as much wing as we could and I think they got clipped ... in the last couple of years," he said referring to the two degrees of rear wing adjustment removed from the FG II via the category aerodynamic parity testing process in the summer of 2012-2013.

"I knew what it was like driving a Falcon, you wanted as much rear downforce as you could get, so unfortunately these guys (PRA) have had to compromise the set-up the last few years to make the rear grip. This year they have got a big help and it is working for them.

"At this track you need good efficiency down the straight and they have got that. They are only going to get better as they get used to the aero.

"So they did need it and now we have to catch them."

Compared to the old FG II, the FG X's wing is wider, mounted further back off the boot and lower. It has its two degrees back and also has a taller gurney flap. Up-front the lower cheeks now feature noticeable steps, while the front undertray is extended. The car also has a minor weight reduction.

The FG Xs showed promise at the sydney.com SuperTest where Mostert claimed fastest time in the shootout. But the new Falcon was not so prominent at the Clipsal 500 championship, where Mostert's third in Race One was the highlight.

But at Albert Park, where aerodynamics are hugely important, Winterbottom has claimed his first pole position since November 2013 and first race win since June 2014.

"At Adelaide they (PRA) were probably getting used to it and testing some stuff," said van Gisbergen. "I reckon they are going to be quick all year."

Van Gisbergen's bullish assessment wasn't quite equalled by Mostert, but he clearly felt encouraged by his and Winterbottom's results.

"I think it (FG X) is suiting this track this weekend and there are a lot of tracks on the calendar that simulate aspects of it," he said.

"Previously when we have come here with the FG we have always struggled, mainly because of the aero side, so it's good to see our brand new FG Xs winning here this weekend. But saying that, there are a lot of different types of tracks on the calendar where getting the aero back doesn't mean it is necessarily going to work.

"So we have a good basis in the car, but you can see how much of it is in the shocks these days and getting the tyre pressures right. So you can be on the ball one day like we are today, but then you can be so far behind because some little thing is wrong.

"We have a little bit of work to do. I am still not 100 per cent happy with some of the things it is doing. But saying that it's good to be at the front and not quite happy with the package because you know you can make gains."

Race threebegins this afternoon at 3.25pm local time.