PI as a test track

SSbaby · 2 Dec 2005, 05:37 (Ref:1475356)

It was interesting to hear Greg Murphy's comments after the results of the Phillip Island round of V8 Supercars... It seems that the teams who use PI as a test track fail to take advantage of the 'home town' factor mainly because of the variable weather there. I would've expected to see the Commodore's at least dominate practise, which was not to be... Only the HSV dealer team showed some fight on behalf of the Holden pedallers.

Is PI really a counter productive test circuit or is it simply a case of the Home Town Holden teams not getting their act together?

storyline · 2 Dec 2005, 05:47 (Ref:1475358)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSbaby

Is PI really a counter productive test circuit or is it simply a case of the Home Town Holden teams not getting their act together?

Or a case of these teams simply putting their cars in the garages when it gets wet?

SSbaby · 2 Dec 2005, 10:23 (Ref:1475498)

Quote:

Originally Posted by storyline

Or a case of these teams simply putting their cars in the garages when it gets wet?

Yeah, it's kinda what I'm implying.

It seems that testing time at PI is limiting the teams development progress thanks in no small part to the inclement weather. Victoria has had some reasonable rain in the last year or so... it contrasts with years of drought, prior. Maybe HRT should consider nominating an alternate test track if they are to become a force again... as they really should have dominated last weekend based on their hometrack performances over the years?

storyline · 2 Dec 2005, 10:39 (Ref:1475515)

There is another side to this as well - not sure what the mid week costs are now for the Island, but when you consider the steep rises in hire costs for clubs for weekend events (sprints, races etc) - that could also be another factor that needs to be considered.

Onlooker · 2 Dec 2005, 11:46 (Ref:1475569)

I think it is about 8k for a day there, hence they all go together,

Skaife was plenty fast there apparently the week before the event, just missed the mark on race day

The Hrt Kid · 2 Dec 2005, 12:44 (Ref:1475641)

and where would you nominate to test, winton doesnt hold a round no more and from my understanding you cannot use sandown as a test track.

SSbaby · 3 Dec 2005, 04:01 (Ref:1476124)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hrt Kid

and where would you nominate to test, winton doesnt hold a round no more and from my understanding you cannot use sandown as a test track.

The point about this thread is to state the bleeding obvious... PI hasn't been a huge home ground advantage purely from the weather aspect. Just because Winton is no longer a round doens't mean HRT shouldn't use it as a test track. What HRT (and other teams) need to do is gather valuable data... the only way to do that is to do laps around a predominantly dry track... and Winton would be a better 'weather' circuit than PI in that regard.

**GTRMagic** · 2 Dec 2005, 23:39 (Ref:1476057)

Silverstone? They can send that HRT chassis back to the UK to be worked on at ArrowsF1.... oops... no they can't

WebberForWDC · 3 Dec 2005, 00:35 (Ref:1476078)

Winton - the way of the future.

Marcos Skaife · 3 Dec 2005, 04:18 (Ref:1476126)

Why can`t they use Sandown? Hell they could just about drive the cars to the track and save using the trucks!!

storyline · 3 Dec 2005, 04:21 (Ref:1476127)

Sandown is only permitted 5 noise weekends a year by the local council. Even at sprint meetings race cars are (theoretically) not permitted - they stop open wheelers (only because they oviously look like race cars!)

During the week very strict noise limits are in place and enforced.

mayhem · 3 Dec 2005, 04:41 (Ref:1476129)

Some would argue that testing at Phillip Island helps at Bathurst, with undulation changes and a good mix of fast and slow corners.

Mattracer · 5 Dec 2005, 11:13 (Ref:1477292)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayhem

Some would argue that testing at Phillip Island helps at Bathurst, with undulation changes and a good mix of fast and slow corners.

As far as this statement is concerned, this year's result at Bathurst is proof.

Athough, nothing was going to stop Ford this year in the overall sense.

Silent Number · 5 Dec 2005, 06:40 (Ref:1477138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSbaby

It was interesting to hear Greg Murphy's comments after the results of the Phillip Island round of V8 Supercars... It seems that the teams who use PI as a test track fail to take advantage of the 'home town' factor mainly because of the variable weather there. I would've expected to see the Commodore's at least dominate practise, which was not to be... Only the HSV dealer team showed some fight on behalf of the Holden pedallers.

Is PI really a counter productive test circuit or is it simply a case of the Home Town Holden teams not getting their act together?

they culd always go back 2 winton. i dont think murphy ever one there eitha.

skaif wont go ther becoz he cant go fast enuf

Conrod Kieron · 5 Dec 2005, 07:36 (Ref:1477152)

Doesn't FPR use PI as a test track?
There wasn't too many problems with the Cat cars speed in practice at least, in fact it showed a marked improvement, maybe due to home track advantage?

If Spud was saying they had no home track advantage, then its a level playing field and the Holden boys simply didn't get it right and the QLD Ford boys did on the day.

mac · 5 Dec 2005, 22:56 (Ref:1477828)

The #6 FPR car was quick all weekend - they certainly gained some home-track advantage.

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