Teams alter enduro test plans amid Winton weather
Supercars
05 Sep
BJR, Team 18 and BRT delay testing to Wednesday
Erebus, Tickford, WAU and Penrite Racing soldier on
Teams have two hours of running or until 11:00am to abandon test day
The threat of wet weather at Winton Motor Raceway has seen three Supercars teams delay their pre-enduro test days.
Southern teams rolled out at the Benalla circuit on Tuesday ahead of next weekend’s Penrite Oil Sandown 500.
Melbourne teams Erebus Motorsport, Tickford Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Penrite Racing, Team 18 and Blanchard Racing Team were joined by Brad Jones Racing.
However, the latter three teams have abandoned their Tuesday running, and will return on Wednesday.
BJR, Team 18 and BRT will remain at Winton, with Erebus, Tickford, WAU and Penrite Racing soldiering on at the 3.0km circuit on Tuesday.
Per Supercars testing rules, should teams not spend a day towards their testing allocation, they have either two hours of running or until 11:00am local time to abandon a test day.
Teams are only allowed to use the concession once a year, with BJR opting not to turn a lap when rain fell at a planned test day at Winton on May 31.
On that day, however, Tickford and WAU used up the majority of the two-hour allowance, as did Penrite Racing for a rookie day.
BJR will return with all four entries on Wednesday, with Team 18 and BRT fielding two cars each.
BRT will roll out the #7 wildcard entry for a second time after it made its track debut, also at Winton, on Monday.
Pre-enduro testing has proven dramatic for several teams, none more than championship contenders Red Bull Ampol Racing due to a crash for Shane van Gisbergen.
Van Gisbergen suffered a brake failure while at the wheel of the #97 Red Bull Ampol Camaro at Queensland Raceway, and crashed heavily at Turn 6.
Triple Eight is attempting a trackside repair of the car in order to hand crucial laps to co-driver Richie Stanaway.
Matt Stone Racing is also investigating the cause of an incident for Cameron Hill, who brought his #35 Truck Assist Camaro to safety in the Turn 2 sand trap after the car lost its left front wheel.
The Penrite Oil Sandown 500 will be held on September 15-17, ahead of the Repco Bathurst 1000 on October 5-8. Tickets for both events are on sale now.
