Gasly and Ocon test Australian Supercar

In brief

Alpine drivers try Australian Supercar

Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon and Jack Doohan’s promotional duties for Alpine ahead of this weekend’s grand prix included trying out a car from Australia’s popular Supercars series on Calder Park Raceway’s oval.

The trio, plus Extreme E champion Molly Taylor, sampled a Ford Mustang GT built to the series’ latest ‘Gen3’ technical regulations. The car produces over 600 horsepower from a 5.4-litre V8 engine. Due to rain, they tested on wet compound tyres.

“That was insane,” said Gasly after his run. “It was actually my first time driving on an oval, it was incredible.”

On the prospect of racing in Supercars, he added “Bathurst is definitely on my bucket list, I definitely want to participate one day there. Ocon said he frequently drives the iconic Mount Panorama circuit on Alpine’s simulator.

DRS adjustment for Melbourne

The FIA has revealed the location of the four DRS zones for this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Last year three DRS zones were used, although a fourth was initially incorporated into the track design but removed after practice. The detection point for the fourth zone was 45 metres after turn six, and the activation point was 140m after Panel 11, which was located trackside just after the right-hand kink between turn eight and nine.

That DRS zone has been reinstated for 2023, with the detection point brought five metres closer to turn six than in last year’s plan and with the activation point being 10 metres earlier. The second DRS zone, which starts after turn 10, will use the same detection point as the first one in the lap.

Another change has been made at the pit exit. This now ends at the second safety car line, having previously extended beyond it, and been reduced in width by four metres.

Links

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