NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR AUSTRALIAN GT

Approaching the opening round of the Australian Endurance Championship, Australian GT category manager has announced that tyre warming cupboards will be used during the Endurance rounds only.

The tyre cupboards were use in this year’s Bathurst 12 Hour event and after consultation with Pirelli and competitors; Australian GT management has decided to allow these to be used by teams.

“We are allowing the tyre warming cupboards at the endurance rounds following a review of the circuits we are competing at and in consultation with Pirelli,” explained Collier.

“The latest GT3 cars are developing much more aerodynamic down force than in previous cars and this results in higher corner speeds and greater load on the tyre. Also, there have been occurrences of tyre damage through low pressures and/or excessive camber set-up which is a problem in qualifying sessions.

“Tyre warming is permitted in many GT races in Europe and it has been found to extend tyre life and assist in reducing the occurrence of set-up related damage to the tyres.  We will continue to recommend minimum pressures and camber and we are also looking at the possibility of regulating these at each endurance event.”

The Australian Endurance Championship kicks off as part of the Shannons Nationals meeting at Phillip Island on the 26-28 of May, where the GT cars will be joined by the Australian Carrera Cup in a Pro-Am weekend, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge, Australian Formula 4 and the Radical Australia Cup.

As line-ups for the Endurance Championship become finalised, Peter Hackett and Dom Storey will drive an Eggleston Motorsport prepared Mercedes-AMG GT3.