Supercars will begin testing on its Gen3 project in August ahead of the slated roll out date of 2022.
The timing of Gen3 has come under fire in recent months with teams raising concerns that the timeframe they have to build the new cars is too short.
However, Supercars’ head of Motorsport Adrian Burgess confirmed today that plans are afoot to have one of each a Gen3 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro testing at Sydney Motorsport Park in August.
Triple Eight Racing have been charged with building one prototype chassis, while Dick Johnson Racing are developing a second.
“We hope to have those on track, running in August” Burgress told Australian media.
“You’ve seen the chassis, Triple Eight has put together the Camaro chassis, PACE Innovations has put together the Mustang chassis.
“Both of those chassis are identical in every way, shape, or form.
“So, the two homologation teams, along with Supercars, are building the two prototypes.”
The test will also give the category an opportunity to trial new components planned to be introduced in line with Gen3.
One of those is paddle shift.
While not fully confirmed, the test will see paddle shift experimented with.
Paddle shift or not, Supercars did confirm that electronic gear shifting will replace the current manual gear shift system once Gen3 hits the track.
“It will be electronic shift, whatever happens, there will be an electronic actuator on the gearbox that will actually make the shift,” Burgess said.
“The only difference is whether the signal is coming from a flipper on the steering wheel or from the lever.
“We’ll test both of those systems when the prototypes are up and running.”
Importantly, Burgess emphasised that Gen3 is still en route to be rolled out next season.
However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of Gen3 coming in midway through the year.
“I am not ruling anything out,” Burgress said.
“But equally I cannot go on record and say when it is going to be because that decision hasn’t been taken yet.”