EXCLUSIVE: NEW MUSTANG PARITY ROW ERUPTS

A parity storm is brewing at Albert Park as Supercars continues to investigate claims that the pace-setting DJR Team Penske Mustangs are exploiting the weight distribution rules.

By MARK FOGARTY

AUTO ACTION has learned that exhaust silencers of all the cars have been weighed ahead of the four-race Melbourne 400 at the Australian Grand Prix, revealing a major disparity between DJRTP and the rest.

The mass of the mufflers was checked in response to complaints at the Adelaide 500 that the new Mustang has gained an advantage with a lower centre of gravity, as revealed exclusively in the latest issue of AA.

According to our sources, the silencers of the Shell V-Power Racing Mustangs weighed around 25 kilograms each, compared with about four kilos for the rest.

The reason they are so heavy is to place a large chunk of the ballast the DJRTP Fords need to meet the minimum weight limit as low as possible.

Using the heavyweight mufflers as ballast lowers the cars’ centre of gravity, which aids cornering.

It is also not illegal or even a grey area under the current wording of the ballast rules, just a creative interpretation of the regulations.

The Mustang, like the ZB Commodore, needs weight added in the form of ballast because the extensive use of lightweight composite materials – pioneered by the ZB – means the car can be built under the minimum mass figure specified by the rules.

Teams place the ballast as low as possible and in the most advantageous positions to get the centre of gravity as low as possible and to optimise weight distribution.

DJRTP suggests its Mustangs are carrying less ballast than when the Red Bull Holden Racing Team ZB Commodores debuted in Adelaide last year.

AUTO ACTION understands that Supercars is now considering introducing a maximum weight for silencers, as well as continuing to check low-mounted components.

Despite efforts to downplay a potential parity row over the Mustang, dissent is increasing among Holden teams – despite the fact that the ZB ‘let the genii out of the bottle’ in terms of lightweight construction and improved weight distribution, including a lower centre of gravity.

Concerns will only be raised by the Mustang’s sweep of qualifying for the four-race Melbourne 400 at Albert Park, with Scott McLaughlin grabbing three pole positions and Tickford Racing’s Chaz Mostert claiming the other.

Mustangs dominate the leading grid positions for all four races.

DJRTP swept the poles and the races at the Adelaide 500, extenuating parity worries that first emerged at the Phillip Island pre-season test.

A parity row is looming and resistance to the Mustang’s legal exploitation of the rules – and the Holden teams’ growing dissatisfaction – isn’t going to go away.

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