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SuperUtes set for pre-Winton test

15 Mar 2018
Full field set for two days of running before Round 2
2 mins by James Pavey
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ECB SuperUtes Series competitors will travel to Winton next month for a two-day test, ahead of the second round of the inaugural season at the Victorian circuit.

Between Adelaide’s maiden event and the Winton SuperSprint in mid-May, the entire field is expected to attend a test on April 12-13.

SuperUtes staff including category manager Kurt Sakzewski will be in attendance, keeping a close eye on the field as officials oversee the development of the cars.

"Although it's not an official test day organised by Supercars, we will certainly be in attendance with some of our technical staff to keep an eye on it,” Sakzewski told Supercars.com.

"We will also take the opportunity while they're there to assess the current BOP (Balance Of Performance) across the makes, which we will do throughout the year.

"There's no specific format or schedule of outcomes that Supercars are looking for, it's just more us going along and supporting the teams that are going to be testing that day.”

The second of this year’s eight SuperUtes rounds will be held at Winton on May 18-20, with the grid expected to grow from the 10 that raced in Adelaide, including the addition of the Isuzu.

Pre-season testing was limited for the new, turbo-diesel, dual-cab racers due to tight timeframes around getting the vehicles homologated and built.

"One of the things we noted going into Adelaide was that there was limited seat time for most of the field," Sakzweski added.

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"This is an opportunity to cut some laps and really get comfortable with the car, to set it up for Winton, so when we get there they're ready to go.

"It'll be like any other test day, where people go out and set their own agenda for things they want to test and develop on their car, and I think the key component will be giving the drivers as many laps as they can do.

"It's all about improving the package, so that when we turn up to Round 2 at Winton, it's all going to add to making a better show."

Three different brands – Toyota, Mitsubishi and Mazda – filled the round podium in Adelaide, with Holden and Ford also on the grid.

"We're still learning about the cars, we're very much still in the development stage," said Sakzweski.

"The turbo-diesel engines that we're working with, this is really new ground in Australian motorsport.

"There's a lot to be learnt from these engines and the best way to do that is under race conditions.

"The interest has been really high, both commercially from sponsors wanting to get involved and certainly drivers who want to get in there and drive them."

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