Push to Pass boosted ahead of Adelaide 500 debut

The Push to Pass system has received a boost ahead of the second and final round of the S5000 Tasman Series in Adelaide this weekend.

Push to Pass system was introduced to the open-wheel category in the Tasman Series opener at the Gold Coast to promote closer racing and more overtaking.

Drivers receive an increased amount of throttle percentage and horsepower when implementing the boost, but can only use it for a set number of deployments throughout each race adding an extra element of strategy and intrigue to the racing.

For the S5000 Adelaide debut, the system will operate in the same way, but will instead now be deployed based on a maximum amount of time for each race.

Drivers will now enjoy 90 seconds of Push to Pass deployment, which will remain activated until a driver turns it off manually or applies the brakes.

Garry Rogers Motorsport S5000 technical partners representative Stefan Millard said the changes will allow for better use of the system to set up a potential overtakes at different parts of the circuit.

“The revisions to the Push to Pass system for Adelaide will introduce more strategy into the racing and we think will make for a better product,” Millard said.

S5000’s racing on the streets of the Gold Coast. Image: Daniel Kalisz

“Much like how it is used in IndyCar racing, drivers can pick and choose how they utilise it rather than being stuck with a set number of deployments per race.

“They can turn it off when they have pushed the button, so if they see the car in front using it, they can save their time for later.

“Similarly, it allows the system to be used on shorter straights to set up a pass for later in the lap.

“At the Gold Coast we were aiming for approximately 0.4 to 0.5 seconds gain on the straight and Adelaide will be similar.

“We will continue to tune the system throughout the weekend.”

Fans will be notified when the Push to Pass system has been activated by a flashing LED rain light located at the rear of each car.

The S5000 cars are expected to lap the 3.219km Adelaide Parklands circuit in less than 77 seconds, which would better the current Supercars qualifying lap record of 1:19.2951s set by Shane van Gisbergen in 2017.

Nathan Herne is the driver everyone is trying to catch this weekend after he bossed the opening round at the Gold Coast.

But the likes of Joey Mawson and former Formula 1 star Giancarlo Fisichella will be on track and will lead the charge of the strong field looking to slow the rising star when the VALO Adelaide 500 shifts into gear on Thursday.

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