A Gen3 spec Ford Mustang in the colors of Boost Mobile
Richie Stanaway says the advent of Gen3 could bring him back to the Repco Supercars Championship full-time in 2023.
Officially unveiled at this year’s Bathurst 1000, the Gen3 spec Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro mark a technical departure from the established Gen2 machinery.
One of the sticking points of the next generation touring cars is the way the cars change gears.
While a trivial subject for some, it could or could be pivotal to Stanaway’s return to full-time competition.
While Supercars has not yet publicly said whether it will implement an automatic throttle, the Gen3 working group has tested the Mustang and Camaro using the technology.
In a Gen3 tender published earlier this year, an automatic throttle valve stop was listed as a prerequisite for the new category-controlled powertrain supplier.
Though divided on the subject, Stanaway said the train might be to bring him back full-time if the opportunity presents itself.
Speaking to Speedcafe.com, the 30-year-old said he struggled to adjust his heels and toes during his two-year supercar ride.
This was mainly because they had no experience of braking with their right foot, which the lion’s share of Supercars drivers do.
“Since this is a new generation of cars, it would be much more in line with the experience I had before racing in supercars,” Stanaway told Speedcafe.com.
“Most of my experience comes from open wheelers and GT cars and I’ve struggled with the current a lot [Supercars] Formula, just with the need to brake with my right foot and stuff that I could never really learn.
“The championship is now in new ownership, which keeps shaking things up. It’s definitely something that comes to mind.
“If you’ve never had to brake with your right foot and then run into guys who have been driving the car like this for years, it becomes really difficult.
“During my two-year full-time racing, halfway through the year I wanted to use right-hand brakes and just learn how to drive the car properly, but when I went to do the conversion I felt like I was just driving.” see.
“It’s a pretty big change so I kind of stuck with my left foot braking, which I don’t think is the best way to go.
“I know Gen3 and paddle shifters are a bit controversial, some people want to stick with the old school style and I agree in some ways, but at the end of the day it just brings the category more in line with other championships around the world .
“People from Europe and the US or whatever, if they want to jump in supercars they won’t fight like that, so I think it’s good.”
Greg Murphy (left) and Richie Stanaway were scheduled to compete at Bathurst 1000 in 2021. Image: Mark Horsburgh
A return could be put to bed, however, if rumors make the rounds.
Although the supercar fan base and some drivers have rallied against the introduction of paddle shifters and automatic throttle, the technical hurdles posed could be abandoned.
The key to Stanaway’s decision-making process was a one-time return to the Supercars grid as a wildcard entry at this year’s Bathurst 1000.
There he was to drive together with the four-time Great Race winner Greg Murphy in a Boost Mobile-supported Holden ZB Commodore from Erebus Motorsport.
However, these plans have been rolled back due to travel restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic that prevented their return from Australia to New Zealand.
Stanaway, who last competed in the Supercars season finale in Newcastle in 2019, said that would have been an important factor in whether he would aim for a full-time return.
“It was disappointing,” he said of the postponement.
“I put a lot of preparation into it, but at the end of the day we wanted to compromise everything a bit, just with the situation.
“We would miss a few days of testing and it would just be a little more difficult than we had originally planned.
“Of course, as a wildcard you’re already behind when it comes to preparing for a race. Then if you add more packages with lost trial days, it only made sense to postpone this until the next year.
“It was all out of our control when it came to the border restrictions, there is nothing either of us could really do about it. It is what it is. I think it will just be better for everyone next year when hopefully this COVID situation is behind us.
“I think the wildcard is a great opportunity to see where I am, just to run on a different team,” he added.
“I’ll be able to judge a little based on my performance and if there is an opportunity to return full-time and the opportunity seems right, then I would definitely consider it.
Boost Mobile owner Peter Adderton, who was a staunch supporter of Stanaway, recently posted a rendering of a Ford Mustang with the New Zealander’s name on it on Instagram.
Adderton, who previously expressed a desire to start his own Supercars team, wrote, “Is it time we started our own team in 2023? I think so. “
Adderton has stated through and through his intention to create a Gen3 Regulated Supercars team using Erebus Motorsport-built cars should he acquire the necessary Racing Charters teams.
