Getting Down
V8X Supercar Magazine|December 2019 - January 2020 Issue 114
Supercars will reduce downforce on the Ford Mustang and Holden ZB Commodore for 2020 in the latest bid to improve the racing and achieve better parity between the cars.
Andrew Clarke
Getting Down

Supercars has bowed to pressure and announced it is reducing downforce on its racing cars from 2020.

The Ford Mustang and Holden ZB Commodore will be re-tested through an improved process over the offseason, with downforce reduced by around 15 percent.

The hope is that a reduction in downforce will improve a car’s ability to follow and then increase overtaking opportunities. It’s seen as a long-awaited redress.

Over time the amount of downforce has slowly crept up, adding up to what is measured as 350kg of downforce at 200km/h, as new models were introduced since the implementation of the Car of the Future regulations from 2013. Each manufacturer and. design team was looking for an advantage and playing the system. Ride heights, pitch angles and the like all used to fit the figures and the test but not to create parity.

One of the most significant cars in terms of aerodynamics in Supercars was the Volvo Polestar S60. Scott Burch from Garry Rogers Motorsport was involved in that development and agrees there was incremental creep not just from that car but from all cars.

“I suppose the cars have generally gotten more aero dependent as time’s gone on,” he says.

“Because we have a very large planar surface [the front undertray], which is very close to the ground on these, which sits the leading edge a meter in front of the centre of the front wheel, and then you’ve got this huge area at the back.

“When you dip down on the brakes, you generate an awful lot of downforce on there. Anyone who steps in and gets out talks about how amazing these things are on the brakes.

This story is from the December 2019 - January 2020 Issue 114 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 2019 - January 2020 Issue 114 edition of V8X Supercar Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM V8X SUPERCAR MAGAZINEView All
The F1 Legends At The Mountain
V8X Supercar Magazine

The F1 Legends At The Mountain

The recently departed Sir Stirling Moss is recognised as the best Formula 1 driver never to win the drivers’ world championship, but his illustrious career extended to many other categories, including an often forgotten appearance in the Bathurst 1000 alongside another legend of the sport.

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
Right On Track: Sprinting Back Into Action
V8X Supercar Magazine

Right On Track: Sprinting Back Into Action

The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship returns with shorter sprint races on the reworked calendar in 2020.

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
Beyond The Wheel: Racing Virtually
V8X Supercar Magazine

Beyond The Wheel: Racing Virtually

Racing online in the BP Supercars All Stars Eseries was a new experience for me. While there were some carryover traits from racing in real life, there were also some significant differences.

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
Top 10 Seasons
V8X Supercar Magazine

Top 10 Seasons

Top 10 Seasons

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
The Inside Story: The New Normal
V8X Supercar Magazine

The Inside Story: The New Normal

As we prepare for the return of racing, the whole Supercars pitlane is wondering how things will look. And work.

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
Top 10 (Multi-Car) Crashes
V8X Supercar Magazine

Top 10 (Multi-Car) Crashes

10 mount panorama circuit 2014

time-read
3 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
TOP 10 MAKES
V8X Supercar Magazine

TOP 10 MAKES

TOP 10 MAKES

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
VIRTUAL MOVES
V8X Supercar Magazine

VIRTUAL MOVES

The BP Supercars All Stars Eseries provided some racing during the suspension of the season, paving the way for more regular virtual contests.

time-read
2 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
V8X Supercar Magazine

VIRTUAL REALITY

The BP Supercars All Stars Eseries has paved the way for Supercars to further embrace virtual racing, opening up an important avenue to attract and engage with new audiences for the category

time-read
5 mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117
1960 – 2020 TOP 60 DRIVERS
V8X Supercar Magazine

1960 – 2020 TOP 60 DRIVERS

Who are the greatest drivers in the 60-year history of the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars? We rank the top 60 with an emphasis on best championship finishes, race-winning percentage and competitive longevity. Only drivers with top 10 championship finishes were considered, to emphasise championship performances over part-time or endurance campaigns. Also, results from the Bathurst 1000 and other endurance events were only factored in when they were part of the championship.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Winter 2020 Issue 117