Barcelona: the perfect test track
Posted on June 1, 2023 Tags: Wanneroo
Wanneroo to host Supercars through 2025
And MA gives Finke all-clear for Auto class
THE F1 CHAMPIONSHIP RESUMES this weekend at the magical city of Barcelona with the season’s eighth race – the Spanish Grand Prix. And Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz is expecting plenty of support from his adoring fans watching the 28-year-old Madrileño in action from their very own Grada55 grandstand.
Not forgetting, of course, that 41-year-old Fernando Alonso also is Spanish – from the delightful northern city of Oviedo. And one of that proud nation’s most famous sons. Fernando, like many of his mates, now resides in Monaco.
Scuderia Ferrari left the principality with just a handful of points when rain dashed the hopes of both Charles Leclerc and Carlos, who finished a disappointing sixth and eighth respectively.
Boss man full of praise
Asked about Oscar Piastri’s performances so far this season, McLaren CEO Zak Brown was full of praise for the young Australian, believing he is beginning to match the pace set by the more experienced Lando Norris.
“Oscar has been impressive since we’ve had him in the car. He’s very mature, he’s very focused and he’s very technical.
“So, the combination of Lando and Oscar, I couldn’t think of a better combination of drivers.
“I’m sure Otmar Szafnauer [Alpine team principal] and Guenther Steiner [Haas] might have a different view, as they should, as far as all of us supporting our drivers.
“But Oscar has done a fantastic job, and he’s trading lap times with Lando now, and that’s what you want.”
Barcelona a serious leveler
“Traditionally, Barcelona’s Montmeló circuit has been one of the most popular venues for testing: both for cars and tyres,” according to Pirelli guru Mario Isola.
“It’s a complete track, featuring several different types of speeds and corners, and it also has a very long straight. “
Barcelona is more of a leveler than any other for F1 drivers, from its standing as the prime test venue for the sport.
As a result, aerodynamic efficiency is key to being competitive. The final sector has been modified for this year, reverting to the original layout without a final chicane.
This makes it a much more flowing track now, and adds to the entry speed onto the main straight.
Two corners, Turn 3 and Turn 9, are particularly demanding in terms of lateral forces exerted on the tyres.
C1 is an entirely new Pirelli compound
“We’ve chosen the same three types of tyre as the season-opener in Bahrain. But it’s important to remember, when comparing to last year, that this year’s C1 is an entirely new compound, specifically designed to bridge the gap between the hardest tyre in the range (now called the C0) and the C2.
“In theory, this should hand the teams a wider range of strategic choices, given that the hardest available compound last year wasn’t used at all in the race.
“Another novelty is the chance that the drivers will have during the first two free practice sessions to try out two additional sets of hard tyres that feature the new construction that will be used from the British Grand Prix onwards.
“Apart from the use of some new material, which has already been homologated following an extensive test programme, the latest specification is identical to the previous version.
“Initially this was scheduled for 2024, but its introduction has now been brought forward to make the structure more resistant to fatigue, as the loads generated by the current cars have already reached the targets set for the end of the season after only a few races.
“This new construction has no impact though on the technical parameters or performance of the tyres.” Mario Isola.
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The teams have the C1 as P Zero White hard, C2 Yellow medium, and C3 as Red soft at their disposal in Barcelona.
• The Barcelona track has undergone a major modification this year. The final chicane (Turns 14 and 15) that was introduced in 2007 has now been removed, with the track reverting to its original configuration. Other improvements concern the first corner, with a wider escape road and new barriers.
• This key change to the final sector will make it more flowing and less severe for the tyres in terms of traction. The left-hand corners are mainly taken at low speed, while the right-handers tend to be flat-out.
• Last year, Red Bull’s race winner and last-up Monaco champ Max Verstappen used a three-stop strategy like most of his rivals, alternating between soft and medium. With the introduction of the new hard tyre, this now adds another strategic factor into the mix.
Pirelli will continue its 2024 testing campaign at the circuit following Barcelona race, with Mercedes and Ferrari running over two days as they develop the compounds and constructions for next year.
Pirelli around the world
Pirelli will be busy on four different fronts this weekend. In addition to the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, there is the Italian round of the World Rally Championship in Sardinia and the second round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard in France. Then there’s the Pirelli Emilia-Romagna round of the FIM Superbike World Championship at Misano in Italy. All these championships are exclusively supplied by Pirelli, underlining the prominence of the Italian tyre manufacturer all around the world.
You can’t help bad luck, they say!
Formula 2
AND AUSSIE JACK DOOHAN has had more than his fair share of the bad this F2 season, to the extent that his dream of a seat in Formula One in 2024 is looking anything but flash, as his rivals bolt away into the distance.
He is an undoubted talented driver, so here’s hoping Lady Luck is with him to guide him around Barcelona’s Montmeló circuit.
Meanwhile Frederik Vesti (Prema Racing) claimed victory in the Feature Race in Monaco and with it the drivers’ championship lead.
The Dane, on 89, comes to Barcelona with a five-point lead over Theo Pourchaire (ART Grand Prix) and 20 points over Ayumu Iwasa (DAMS). For Barcelona, Pirelli brings the P Zero White hard and P Zero Red soft compounds.
Formula 3
After Monaco, Gabriel Bortoleto continues to lead the drivers’ standings with 73 points. Gabriele Minì (Hitech Pulse-Eight) used his win in Monaco to climb to second place, 17 behind the Trident driver. Grégoire Saucy (ART Grand Prix) dropped to third place with 47. Pirelli has chosen is the P Zero White hard compound for Montmeló.
Supercars back at Wanneroo through 2025
Image courtesy of WASCC
THE PERTH SUPERSPRINT is locked onto the Supercars calendar for at least a further two seasons, after an impressive 34,052 crowd was confirmed for this year’s blockbuster.
The deal was inked with Tourism WA, Supercars and the WA Sporting Car Club this week, guaranteeing the historic Wanneroo circuit will host Australia’s premier motor race series through 2025.
The event has been the undoubted highlight of the motorsport calendar since the Supercars/Australian Touring Car Championship first descended on Western Australia in 1973. This year marked the 95th series race at Wanneroo – injecting millions of dollars into the local economy.
Wanneroo Circuit steeped in History
“We are thrilled to have struck this new deal with the WA Government, delivered through Tourism WA and the WA Sporting Car Club, to race in Perth until at least the end of 2025,” said Supercars CEO Shane Howard.
“This partnership demonstrates the strong commitment of all parties involved to grow the sport in Western Australia, encouraging young West Australian drivers to follow their careers to the top of Australian Motorsport, like current Championship leader Brodie Kostecki and current Bathurst Champion Garth Tander.
“The Wanneroo circuit is steeped in history and is a favourite among fans and drivers alike, so we’re delighted to be able to continue racing there.”
“For more than 50 years the Supercars Championship has been coming to Perth to thrill fans at Wanneroo raceway with the best in touring cars, and we’re delighted to lock in this event for another two years,” said Tourism Minister Roger Cook.
“Motorsport has enjoyed an enthusiastic and passionate following in our state and it’s great that this event will continue to inspire growth in the sport at all levels – from grassroots participants to professional teams.”
The recent crowd at Wanneroo was 12,000 up on the previous round held in Perth.
Supercars are back on track at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway (one of my favourite venues) for the Triple Crown June 16-18, the fourth straight SuperSprint format of the season.
All roads lead to Bencubbin!
The tiny Wheatbelt town of Bencubbin, 170kms north-east of Perth, is set to ramp up this weekend with contestants and spectators heading for the next round of the WA Off Road Racing Championship.
WAORRA is the State’s oldest established off-road racing club with some 150 members, all enthusiastic off-road endurance racers. The club originated in the 1970s with dune racing in Lancelin, north of Perth. These days, with the new generations of racers building faster and stronger vehicles, racing is often on farming properties within a few hours drive from Perth.
Off-road racing tests drivers, co-drivers, navigators and their vehicles over different track conditions, often consisting of mud and creek crossings, gravel pits, open paddocks, tight bush tracks, long sandy straights, with some very rough terrain thrown in just for good measure.
Most races are held over two days, with the lap distance varying from 25-60kms, with each race calendar totalling between 200kms to 500kms.
MA gives Finke all-clear for Cars
Image courtesy AORC
MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA has issued the Finke Desert Race Committee a permit for the Auto (car) section of the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race, scheduled from Friday June 9 to Monday June 12.
In a recent statement released on its website, the Finke Desert Race Committee said “it takes seriously the safety of spectators and competitors and will implement a host of specific safety measures that will enhance the safety of all attendees at the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race.
“This means the spectator experience at the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race will be different to previous years. Specific safety measures that will be implemented at the 2023 Tatts Finke Desert Race.”
Those safety measures, and all relevant information, may be viewed at https://finkedesertrace.com.au/
“Most fun you can have with a helmet on!”
The Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off road, multi terrain two-day race normally for bikes, cars and buggies through desert country from Alice Springs to the small Aputula (Finke) community.
The race is held each year on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June.
“Finke” – as it is commonly known – is among the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory. It has the reputation of being one of the most difficult offroad courses in one of the most remote places in the world.
Finke is billed as “unique and the most fun you can have with a helmet on.”
ORGANIZER: Finke Desert Race Inc admin@finkedesertrace.com.au 08 8952 8886
Superkarts on track June 23
SUPERKARTS HAVE CONFIRMED their next track day for Friday June 23 at DRM, 16 Grogan Road, Perth Airport.
SKCWA secretary David Clarke said members could expect three hours of track time at the multi-purpose venue, from 1pm.
Vehicle and trailer entry is via the main driveway, then left through the carpark to the fence line – on the n/w side of the property, then right and down to SKCWA registration.
Only Trolleys may access the grid areas and main circuit, via a crossover of the flood drain.
Ground Sheets must be used when fueling and conducting maintenance.
Registrations and Payments
Track fee: $100 per driver must be paid via EFT to KartWest p/l – BSB 016 267, ACC 2327 00559
You must be a SKCWA member to participate. Day membership is $25, and a one-day KartWest practice licence is $25. Both are available at the track and can be paid at Sign In.
For further info contact www.superkartwa.com.au or phone Mike 0418 914 422.
EDITED by AC
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