{"id":487174,"date":"2026-02-18T04:23:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T04:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/487174\/"},"modified":"2026-02-18T04:23:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T04:23:19","slug":"supercars-news-drivers-frustrated-by-track-change-for-sydney-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/487174\/","title":{"rendered":"Supercars news: Drivers frustrated by track change for Sydney test"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\u2018Waste
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAction from the pre-season test in 2025. Image: InSyde Media <\/p>\n

The 24-car field was due to undertake a full day of running on Sydney\u2019s Gardner Circuit today ahead of the weekend\u2019s race meeting on the same layout.<\/p>\n

However, urgent track works at Turn 8 \u2013 which Supercars was only advised of on Monday \u2013 resulted in a rejigged schedule.<\/p>\n

Supercars will run on Sydney\u2019s short \u2018Druitt\u2019 circuit between 8:30am and 12:30pm today, before completing the second half of the test on the full circuit from 5:30pm to 9:30pm Thursday night.<\/p>\n

The compromise was struck so that teams still get some running on the full circuit, but only once the new Turn 8 tarmac has had more time to cure.<\/p>\n

Team 18 veteran David Reynolds, though, said the Wednesday running on the 2.8km Druitt circuit, which is normally only used by Supercars for ride days, will be of no value.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy personal opinion is that it\u2019s a complete waste of time,\u201d Reynolds told Speedcafe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can do Sector 1, but then the last sector you arrive at warp speed and it\u2019s not the track.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey should have run all day Thursday or given us more practice on Friday to make up for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cYears gone past we\u2019ve always had our own test days. We can do it Winton and QR (Queensland Raceway). You are in control of your own destiny.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feeney snubs Wood amid ongoing Grand Final animosity<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Teams with the most to lose are arguably those trying to learn new packages, which includes Triple Eight following its switch from GM to Ford.<\/p>\n

Triple Eight star Broc Feeney dubbed the situation \u201cvery disappointing\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is obviously a shame, I don\u2019t know how much value there is now doing too much [running today],\u201d said Feeney.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow much can you learn? Maybe three, four corners, maybe do some process stuff.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s disappointing. You get two days a year, we don\u2019t get to choose where they are now, and we\u2019re on a ride day track.\u201d<\/p>\n

Regardless of the value of today\u2019s laps, all eyes will be on the five Toyotas to see how they match up against the field for the first time.<\/p>\n

Walkinshaw TWG Racing\u2019s Ryan Wood has had limited running in the Supra to date and suggested today will now largely be about ergonomics.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The #1 Optus Racing Toyota Supra and #88 Red Bull Ampol Racing Ford Mustang at Mount Panorama during the Bathurst 12 Hour.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs long as I\u2019m comfy in the car, that\u2019ll be the biggest thing, and then we\u2019ll work on developing the set up and everything like that Thursday night when we\u2019re on the full track,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously it\u2019s a day later and a couple of hours different, but I don\u2019t think it hurts us too much. We\u2019ll just focus on what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Wood and his fellow Toyota drivers are cautious in predicting how their cars will stack up, Feeney expects the Supras to be on the money.<\/p>\n

Parity testing involving a Team 18 Camaro, Triple Eight Mustang and Walkinshaw Supra at Bathurst last week included running nose-to-tail for multiple laps.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt certainly wasn\u2019t slower than us and that\u2019s the first time it\u2019s hit the track,\u201d said Feeney of the Toyota\u2019s performance at Bathurst, where all cars ran with a Supercars-supplied set up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no doubt they\u2019ll be very competitive. The thing looks fast. It\u2019s very different [to the Mustang and Camaro].<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019ll be interesting. I feel like we\u2019ve got a huge learning curve, they\u2019ve got an even bigger one, but I\u2019ve got no doubt they\u2019ll be fast to start the season.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"\"\/
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