Gasly and Ocon test Australian Supercar

In brief

Alpine drivers try Australian Supercar

Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Jack Doohan’s promotional duties for Alpine ahead of this weekend’s grand prix included trying out a car from Australia’s popular Supercars series on Calder Park Raceway’s oval.

The trio, plus Extreme E champion Molly Taylor, sampled a Ford Mustang GT built to the series’ latest ‘Gen3’ technical regulations. The car produces over 600 horsepower from a 5.4-litre V8 engine. Due to rain, they tested on wet compound tyres.

“That was insane,” said Gasly after his run. “It was actually my first time driving on an oval, it was incredible.”

On the prospect of racing in Supercars, he added “Bathurst is definitely on my bucket list, I definitely want to participate one day there. Ocon said he frequently drives the iconic Mount Panorama circuit on Alpine’s simulator.

DRS adjustment for Melbourne

The FIA has revealed the location of the four DRS zones for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Last year three DRS zones were used, although a fourth was initially incorporated into the track design but removed after practice. The detection point for the fourth zone was 45 metres after turn six, and the activation point was 140m after Panel 11, which was located trackside just after the right-hand kink between turn eight and nine.

That DRS zone has been reinstated for 2023, with the detection point brought five metres closer to turn six than in last year’s plan and with the activation point being 10 metres earlier. The second DRS zone, which starts after turn 10, will use the same detection point as the first one in the lap.

Another change has been made at the pit exit. This now ends at the second safety car line, having previously extended beyond it, and been reduced in width by four metres.

Links

Motor racing links of interest:

Southwire named title sponsor of first Formula E race in Portland (Formula E)

‘The 2023 Portland E-Prix will mark the United States debut for FE’s Gen3 cars. Southwire was recently named as the official wire and cable provider for FE, and will now sponsor the inaugural Portland E-Prix.’

Jak Crawford: A race in my Words (Formula 2)

‘Formula 2’s latest American driver Jak Crawford has made the step up from Formula 3 this year, but it’s a race from that championship that sticks out to him most for multiple reasons. Throwing it back to last season, Crawford picked out a tricky weekend that tested the drivers in all conditions.’

The setup: Texas with Will Anderson (IndyCar)

‘This week’s featured guest is Will Anderson, race engineer of the number 5 McLaren driven by Pato O’Ward. He helped guide O’Ward to victory in 2021 at Texas, so how do you prepare for a place like Texas?’

We will never reach peak croissant (The New York Times)

‘Kate Reid, who once worked as an aerodynamicist helping to design F1 cars, is known for her expertly engineered, nontraditional croissants at Lune Croissanterie in Melbourne, Australia. She said the creative wave unleashed by Mr. Ansel and his Cronut likely saved her bakery.’

Arrow McLaren teams up with Path to the Pits (Racer)

‘McLaren’s IndyCar team has aligned with the non-profit Path to the Pits organization in an effort to draw more young talent into the sport.’

The race is on for the grand prix of party invitations (The Age)

‘In F1, the racetrack is strictly off limits. But when you are the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, vying for media attention and sponsorship supremacy against sporting rivals including the AFL, spring racing carnival and Australian Open, nothing is sacrosanct.’

Taponen tops test for Italian F4 and F1 Academy teams at Monza (Formula Scout)

‘Prema’s Tuukka Taponen was fastest in a joint test for teams from Italian Formula 4 and F1 Academy at Monza this week.’

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