V8 Supercars to control data in KL
V8 Supercars will retain all data from the Kuala Lumpur City Grand Prix in order to manage the information flow for those drivers and teams making their Malaysian debut.
Sporting and Technical Director David Stuart explained teams would have enough information to ensure the race cars were performing well and running safely, however they would not be allowed to hold on to any data for future reference.
He also noted there could be changes to the tyre compound -this week'sstreet challenges will be contested on the soft Dunlop tyre -or the circuit before the point-scoring event next year.
"V8 Supercars staff will download the information out of the cars and provide teams with an export of data we agree on, so they've got the ability to look at the way the engine is running and all of the critical parameters. But they will not retain the data for historical record," Stuart told v8supercars.com.au.
"We'll do that for every session. If there's a problem we will be able to identify it, but outside of that we'll control the data."
All 2015 V8 Supercars teams will be provided a video package post-event, with data from the cars' on-board recorders.
"We will make it as fair for those people who are going and those who are not so there is no significant or perceived advantage when we return next year," Stuart said.
"While you can never wipe from a driver's mind what he has learnt we have put a lot of thought into how we will manage the weekend so it is the fairest approach."
Stuart said that there may be differences to the circuit in 2016, given it is a new event in Kuala Lumpur which takes place in the heart of the CBD.
"This is a track that runs through the heart of KL," he explained.
"We could come back next year and the track could be different.I'm not saying it will be, but there's a possibility because of their planning restrictions or changes they need to make. We may also be on a different tyre -all of these factors will be at play."
Before the V8 Supercars event in Austin, Texas, in 2013, Brad Jones Racing's Fabian Coulthard and Holden Racing Team's James Courtney had the opportunity to see the circuit and drive a V8 Supercars prototype on-track, but ultimately did not outperform their competitors at the event.
Holden teams are the only multiple outfits in the Championship with the four other manufacturers are either part of a single team (Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes) or the technical alliance shared by Prodrive Racing Australia and DJR Team Penske as the only two Ford outfits.
"The demonstration is great for V8 Supercars to build ahead of next year and taking a car from each manufacturer is ideal for these street challenges," Stuart said. "It's a little unfortunate for the Holden Teams that only one car can go.
"We are fully aware of all of those factors which is why we put these controls in place."
Regardless of the technical aspect, Stuart says teams and drivers will make for a tremendous spectacle for the expected crowd of 100,000 and a television audience tipped to be more than 1 billion people.
"All the teams going understand what we're going for - to put on a good show -and are fully aware of the requirements and limitations around it," he said.
Drivers and teams left Australia this morning on the way to Malaysia for this weekend's event.
