![\"Claim](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/13671-Edit-1.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Holden ZB Commodore during its initial shakedown in September 2017.<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Holden ZB Commodore during its initial shakedown in September 2017.<\/p>\n
The claim has come from ex-Formula 1 aerodynamicist Nick Wirth who heads up CFD specialist Wirth Research in the UK.<\/p>\n
Holden homologation team Triple Eight engaged Wirth Research to help design the aero package for the ZB Commodore ahead of its debut in Supercars in 2018.<\/p>\n
In an appearance on The Hard Compound YouTube channel, Wirth explained that he exploited the VCAT testing system to ensure the car made more downforce in race trim than during the homologation process.<\/p>\n
VCAT was a highly-controlled, airport runway-based testing system that was used by Supercars to test and tweak downforce levels for new models coming into the series.<\/p>\n
It was used up until the end of last year when it was replaced by overseas wind tunnel testing.<\/p>\n
Wirth claims that the use of control brake ducts during VCAT to accomodate the measuring equipment fitted to the suspension system created an \u201copportunity\u201d to bend the rules.<\/p>\n
In simple terms, he designed an aero package that would stall while the Supercars brake ducts were fitted, which meant the car would measure as legal, but create more downforce in race trim.<\/p>\n
Wirth boldly claims that the difference was two and a half times more downforce \u2013 and that Triple Eight had no idea about the system.<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably there are going to be some people who hear this who aren\u2019t going to enjoy hearing it, because I\u2019m going to tell everybody how we used the rules to beat the rules,\u201d said Wirth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were approached by Triple Eight to try to help hold back the tide of Roger Penske and Ford in Aussie Supercars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fun thing was how to do we a car that\u2019s a big step forward. I had an idea, because they had a flaw in the way they were validating the performance of the cars that we used to devastating effect.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Supercars] made one mistake, and the mistake was that they used their own brake ducts [for VCAT]. They were different to the brake ducts that we used on the real race bodywork.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018that\u2019s an opportunity\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we did was we did a CFD program where every single thing we did, we built models of the brake ducts and load cells that they used to measure the car [during VCAT], so we had a CFD model of that, and we had CFD models of the real bodywork with the real brake cooling system on.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically we got the technology to look for anything that made a bigger difference between when you ran the standard load measuring brake ducts and the race system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe iterated towards a technology that when you put the load cells on, it switched our aerodynamics off. We essentially gave them a car that as soon as they put their load measuring equipment on, it stalled all of the downforce developing devices on the car.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as they took that stuff off, and we put our real stuff on, literally downforce was like two and a half times what had been measured.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did it by literally developing technology that used their won measurement system to defeat them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the Triple Eight drivers drove our car for the first time they said there is no way this car is going to pass homologation. Not a chance. It is just nailed to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a bit of fun, and probably there\u2019s some people at Supercars that when they hear this story might grind their teeth a bit because I\u2019ve never told anyone before.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never told Triple Eight this story.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ZB didn\u2019t actually win the Supercars title in its first year, Scott McLaughlin edging the drivers\u2019 crown in the ageing FG-X Ford Falcon.<\/p>\n
Ford and DJR Team Penske then unleashed their own aero monster in the Gen2 Mustang the following season, leading McLaughlin to two more titles.<\/p>\n
The ZB, in the hands of Shane van Gisbergen, did finish the Gen2 era with two titles on the trot in 2021 and 2022.<\/p>\n
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