Supercars have this morning confirmed the tyre bundles used at the beach chicane for next weekend’s Gold Coast 500 will be replaced by electronic sensors.
The sensors to be used feature new technology that will communicate kerb strikes straight to the driver’s dash rather than to teams, who have previously had to pass on that information.
“The decision to remove tyre bundles from the beach chicane in 2023 has been made following consultation with leading drivers, Supercars and Motorsport Australia,” the series said in a release.
“Supercars, working with Motorsport Australia, has undertaken extensive research to enhance the timing loops in the beach chicane and Turns 1/2/3 areas. The removal of the tyre bundles does not affect the circuit’s licence.
“Drivers’ laps are deleted in practice and qualifying laps if they activate the timing loops.”
The tyre bundles in question were a topic for debate following last year’s Race 32 when James Golding ran into one, launching it across the track and into Thomas Randle, who was forced to pull over later in the lap.
Golding was launched into the air and spun across the front of the field, triggering a multi-car pileup that saw James Courtney, Todd Hazelwood, Broc Feeney, Lee Holdsworth, Nick Percat and Macauley Jones all sustain significant damage. Jones’s Brad Jones Racing Commodore also caught fire following the collision.
The Turn 1 and 2 chicane will still feature a sole tyre bundle.
Practice sessions for the Gold Coast 500 begin on Friday, October 27, with one race on each of Saturday and Sunday.
Header Image: Supercars
