HEIMGARTNER CONFIDENT IN THE MUSTANG

Andre Heimgartner confident in the Mustang – Photo: InSyde Media

After ending Thursday practice at Bathurst as the fourth fastest driver, Kelly Racing’s Andre Heimgartner was left impressed after his first running around The Mountain in the team’s Ford Mustang

By DAN McCARTHY

Last year was the final season of Kelly Racing’s seven-year Nissan Altima program with which Heimgartner missed out on a top 10 result after crashing late in the event.

The Kiwi explained yesterday’s practice sessions were spent learning the characteristics of the Mustang around The Mountain.

“For me personally driving the Nissan last year and the Mustang this year it is really interesting to understand the difference in aero,” Heimgartner said.

“Across the top and even corners like the last corner, it is totally different how you attack that, so it is just learning that.

“It is very friendly compared to what we had last year which is really good for Dylan (O’Keeffe his co-driver).”

Heimgartner further expanded by stating the Mustang’s advantages compared to the Altima are an increase in stability and predictable handling, which he credits to yesterday’s frontrunning pace.

“For us we weren’t quite sure what to do going into this weekend, obviously a different car to the Nissan,” he continued.

“It is definitely a lot friendlier than what we have had in previous years.

“Across the top and through the high-speed aero places it is a lot more predictable just pushing a bit harder.

“It’s a lot more stable just with simple things, like going into the last corner it’s a lot more predictable through the phases, it’s a good gain for us.”

Heimgartner believes further gains are to be made as Kelly Racing continue to develop its pair of Mustangs, which were completed just prior to The Bend SuperTest in February.

“Overall, we are lacking that little bit of fine tuning to keep up with these guys (Triple Eight Race Engineering and Tickford Racing), but we’ll chip away.”

“I think if we can just qualify in the shootout we’ll be happy with that,” Heimgartner said.

Yesterday provided Heimgartner’s first opportunity to experience Kelly Racing’s updated lighter engine, but he suggested it was too early to gauge how the rest of the weekend will play out.

“The new engine package is a lot lighter which should be a positive, but it’s too early really to get too confident or try to predict anything,” he said.

For more of the Supercars motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.