Supercars has this evening confirmed a parity review is set to begin using a comprehensive range of data collected from Sunday’s Bathurst 1000
The organisation released a statement on their website, saying, “Supercars can confirm that, in accordance with the rules of the Parity Review System, adjustment considerations have now commenced.
“The Head of Motorsport (HoM) has provided the Supercars Commission with an update following a comprehensive review of the data collected during the Repco Bathurst 1000.”
“As outlined in the Parity Review System Terms of Reference, the HoM, in conjunction with the Ford Homologation Team, is mandated to present recommendations, including relevant adjustments to the Vehicle Specification Documents and the Rules, to the Commission for implementation.
“The changes, once approved, can be implemented prior to the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.”
Ford has been under pressure in the first season of the Gen3 era, with Mustangs only winning two of this year’s 24 races. The first of those victories only came after Red Bull’s Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney, who finished first and second, were disqualified post-race in the season opener, having been found to have breached a driver cooling system regulation. Cam Waters, who finished third, was promoted to the win.
Anton De Pasquale is Ford’s only on-track winner of the year, claiming the second race at the Townsville 500.
Ford had expressed serious concerns heading into the Bathurst 1000, in particular to the straight-line speed comparison of their rival. New aerodynamic parts, with the understood aim of shifting downforce balance rearward, were proposed before the race and brought to the venue by teams.
Supercars issued a statement before the event, saying the new parts were not approved due to the Parity Review System’s threshold not being met and a unanimous agreement across all teams not decided upon.
All five Ford teams responded by issuing a statement on Friday morning, saying, “The independent data shows that the Mustang will be at a continued disadvantage for the biggest race of the year, which we believe is unacceptable – and not what our sport is built upon,” the statement read.
“While disappointed in the situation, every Ford team will be doing their utmost this weekend; it’s what the fans deserve, it’s what our partners deserve, it’s what the Great Race deserves.
“We will continue working together to correct the imbalance going forward, but now, our attention turns on track, respecting the challenge that The Mountain provides.”
Representatives of each Mustang team and Ford Australia were also seen meeting at Mount Panorama.
Camaros claimed the top two spots in Sunday’s race, with De Pasquale the best Mustang in third. Tickford’s Waters and James Courtney were amoung those to publicly voice opinions of the situation over the weekend.
The penultimate round of the 2023 Supercars season is the Gold Coast 500 on October 27-29.
