Jones Calls Soft Tyre Race Success

Dunlop Series regular Andrew Jones has called for more soft tyre races following the final race at the Sucrogen Townsville 400 – the first time the category raced on the soft compound.

Jones, who finished third overall at the event and drives for Brad Jones Racing in the Dunlop Series, felt the notion of learning to drive on the soft compound was a positive step and in the nature of the development category.

“I’m not sure where the whole concept with us running soft tyres came from because previously it was never flagged – but I think it is a good thing,” Jones said.

“If you’re going to get into the main series then why not learn in the Dunlop Series? 

“Why not have it where we get given a set of softs with no prior running on them and learn to do the best job we can?”

The 2004 Dunlop Series Champion was adamant soft tyres weren’t the cause of the final race’s carnage that saw damage to several cars.

“I don’t think the incidents that happened in that race were contributed to by the tyres,” he said.

“Yes there was a lot of crashing going on but that happens at all sorts of rounds as well. That happens in hard tyre races too.”

With the third race’s grid determined on combined points from the opening two races, there was a mix-up at the front of the field, when some front runners started further back than usual. 

“There were a lot of guys who are normally at the front who had a bad weekend at Townsville, like Jack Perkins and Ash Walsh, who were coming through as others were trying to get used to the tyres,” Jones said. “I think that was a factor of the chaos.”

The Albury-based driver – who will compete in the V8 Supercars endurance races alongside Jason Bright at BJR in the Team BOC Holden Commodore – supports the idea of more events with the soft tyre race in future. He believes the introduction of more variables to the racing is an effective way for younger drivers to learn.

“I think it’s good to mix it up, make people think outside the square a little bit and throw a curveball at those who want to evolve to the next level and onto the main game,” he said.