By Thomas Miles
Date posted: January 20, 2023
With less than 50 days to Newcastle, big names descended on Queensland Raceway on Thursday for the first Gen3 Supercars test of 2023.
Former race winners Jamie Whincup, Will Davison, Chaz Mostert, James Courtney and Andre Heimgartner all shared stints behind the wheel of the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang prototypes at the “Paperclip”.
Jamie Whincup, Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess and James Courtney share a smile at the Gen3 test at Queensland Raceway.
Team representatives such as Tickford team principal Tim Edwards, plus squad members from Brad Jones Racing, PremiAir Racing, Dick Johnson Racing and Triple Eight Race Engineering were also casting an eye on the action.
The first scheduled shakedown takes place at Queensland Raceway in just 10 days time, but Erebus Motorsport has suggested it won’t be track-ready until a fortnight later due to a delay in control parts,
With the clock ticking, the first test of 2023 was a critical one, focusing on the finalization of the homologation process.
The Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro in the pits at Queensland Raceway.
Triple Eight Race Engineering legend Whincup cut some laps to further develop the Camaro and said the running was important.
“It’s great to be back in a Gen3 car,” said the seven-time champion.
“(Just) cutting some laps, doing further testing for Supercars to try and refine the car to make it better for when we hit the track in Newcastle.
“The testing is needed and hopefully we make some good progress.”
Jamie Whincup talks to Triple Eight’s Jeremy Moore and Brad Jones Racing’s Phil Keed at the Gen3 test at Ipswich.
Whincup said he genuinely gets a thrill from steering the new Chevrolet Camaro.
“The new cars are exciting and I am not just saying that,” he said.
“While I loved the ZB (Holden Commodore) it would feel a little flat running another year with the same car.
“What an engineering and driving challenge that is going to be thrown at us. No one knows what is going to happen in six weeks time and that is what it is all about.”
The Gen3 Ford Mustang kicks up some dirt on the exit of the final corner at Queensland Raceway.
One of Whincup’s major rivals and current Dick Johnson Racing #17 star Davison was behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang at his team’s home track. Davison compared the Gen3 test to the corresponding session 12 months ago and said he could sense the excitement in the air.
“It is really exciting to be back and it is that time of year we are itching to get back, particularly with such a huge project ahead of us,” he said.
“This time last year I was here testing the Gen3 car, but it was not front and center on your mind with a full season to go with the old cars.
“Now it is here and in front of us, so it is very real and exciting with these awesome looking cars.”
The new Ford Mustang sitting in the pits at Queensland Raceway.
Mostert enjoyed some valuable seat time in the Mustang ahead of Walkinshaw Andretti United’s high-profile switch from Holden to Ford in 2023.
The 21-time race winner admitted there was some rust after the summer break, but said it was special to return to the scene of his maiden Supercars win a decade ago when he steered a DJR Ford FG Falcon to glory under gloomy skies.
“It has been a little while since I have done some laps, so I felt a little rusty out there,” Mostert said.
“I am normally always testing in Melbourne, so it is good to get back to Queensland Raceway where I had my first win, it is a place I used to love coming to.”
Chaz Mostert has his eyes locked on scoring an early win in the new Gen3 Ford Mustang.
Casting an eye towards the 2023 Supercars Championship season, Mostert said he is desperate to be one of the first drivers to win in a Gen3 Ford Mustang.
“I am always excited and I think through the history of the sport, Ford versus Holden is what the fans get excited about,” he said.
“I had most of my success representing the Blue Oval, so it is good to come back (to Ford) and see the Ford Mustang shape which is really spectacular and I cannot wait to represent it.
“It would be nice to try and get one of the first wins for Ford.”
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.
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