Winterbottom not a fan of kerb sensors, wants bundles back

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: October 25, 2023

Mark Winterbottom has revealed he is disappointed to see tyre bundles replaced by kerb sensors at the Beach Chicane for this weekend’s Gold Coast 500 where car #18 will not be afraid to go “aggressive” with a revamped team.

The trademark chicane located in the middle of the back straight of the Surfers Paradise street circuit will look slightly different in 2023.

Following the multi-car smashup which disrupted last year’s Sunday race after James Golding hit a bundle that then bounced across the track and triggered chaos, Supercars has removed the objects completely.

Instead they have been replaced by electronic sensors which are aimed to detect cars that are being too greedy and kerb hopping.

But with no bundle acting as a deterrent to stop cars from cutting, Winterbottom fears there is not enough punishment.

Mark Winterbottom flies past a bundle at last year’s Gold Coast 500. Image:Mark Horsburgh

“I don’t like the kerb sensor system at all to be honest,” he said.

“I think the kerbs change whether you get a kerb strike or not, whereas a bundle is literally, you hit it, you do damage to your car. I think if you make a mistake you should be punished.

“The sensors are kind of like Hawk-eye at tennis, no one’s really a fan of them.

“I get the safety reasons, but my preference is to have tyre bundles, so, if you hit it and rip the front wheel off it, that’s your problem.

Mark Winterbottom attacking Hell Corner. Image:mark Horsburgh

“If you’re in the wall it’s game over, but it is what it is and we’ll go as hard as we always do to get a result.”

One infamous example of when Supercars tried to move on from bundles was in 2011 when floppy bollards were placed and kerb sensors were activated.

A six-strike system was used, but neither the bollards or the sensors were in operation by the end of the weekend, allowing many drivers to take advantage and cut the corners in what was described at the time as an “embarrassing.”

Aside from that year tyre bundles have almost always been seen at the Beach Chicane.

Not only have there been slight modifications to the track, but also within the Team 18 garage.

Mark Winterbottom last won on the Gold Coast in 2011, ironically the last event when bundles were replaced by sensors. Image: Mark Horsburgh/LAT Photographic

After a disappointing end to the Bathurst 1000, Winterbottom’s engineering line up has been tweaked with Matt Saunders now in charge as engineer, following the departures of Team Manager Bruin Beasley, Race Engineer Manuel Sanchez and Data Engineer Julia McGarry.

This is why Winterbottom believes the refreshed team has “nothing to lose” at the Gold Coast 500.

“Frosty” is no stranger to success at Surfers Paradise, taking home surfboards after wins in 2009 and 2011.

He recorded two top 10 results last year, but his last Gold Coast podium was back in 2013.

“I’m excited. Gold Coast is a track I really love so I’m looking forward to going back there and seeing what we’ve got,” he said.

Mark Winterbottom Team 18 darwin win celebration'

Mark Winterbottom’s #18 team has had a slight reshuffle behind the scenes. Image:Mark Horsburgh

“Obviously, a few things have changed on my car, so with change comes different opportunities.

“I’m teaming back up with Matt Saunders to see what we can do. We’ve got nothing to lose so we’re racing for the win, we’ll go aggressive to try and get a result.”

Image: Mark Horsburgh EDGE Photographics

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