Supercars: 'Beyond obvious' Ford Mustang advantage put under microscope in ​centre-of-gravity tests

James Pavey

Supercars: 'Beyond obvious' Ford Mustang advantage put under microscope in ​centre-of-gravity tests image

Ford's sensational start to the 2019 season with its new Mustang has already raised many questions over parity in the category.

Supercars.com confirmed that the category conducted centre-of-gravity (COG) tests across all three marques - Ford, Holden and Nissan - following the Melbourne 400, where the Mustang's dominance of the new season continued.

Reigning series champion Scott McLaughlin won both races across the Adelaide weekend - the first by nearly 13 seconds - and also won three of four races last weekend at Albert Park.

A bizarre out-lap bingle scuppered McLaughlin's chances at a perfect six-from-six - but even in his absence, Chaz Mostert took the spoils.

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Six poles from six, and six race wins from six. It's exactly what Ford fans would have wanted to start the year, but the new car's pace has already kicked up a stink.

Notably, after McLaughlin swept the Adelaide event, Red Bull Holden boss Roland Dane suggested the new car has an "unfair advantage".

McLaughlin himself responded, and from his perspective, it was simple - Ford just have a good package, just like Holden did 12 months ago as the ZB Commodore won seven of the 2018 season's first eight races.

"It's funny when the shoe is on the other foot. I'm not really stressed at what they say... last year, they were in a similar position. This year, I don't believe we have an unfair advantage. We've just built a great car," McLaughlin said.

However, things ramped up on the grand prix layout in Melbourne - as McLaughlin won the first race at Albert Park, Mostert charged from from 22nd on the grid to fifth as the Mustang completed a top five lock-out.

Chaz Mostert

COG is not mandated by Supercars, but the tests came after rival teams complained that the Mustang's COG was lower, allowing it to handle better through corners.

Reducing COG can be achieved by adding ballast to the car by keeping weight as low as possible.

Some teams believe COG should be mandated. However, fans aren't so sure - in a Speedcafe.com poll, to Wednesday afternoon, nearly 62 per cent of over 10,000 voters believe the category should not regulate COG.

On his new Beyond the Bonnet podcast with fellow driver Michael Caruso, Penrite Racing star David Reynolds was more concerned about the aero of the Mustang.

Reynolds touched on that Friday performance by Mostert, who sliced through the field like a knife through hot butter.

"Centre of gravity, you can muck around with it, but as a driver you never really notice a difference, feeling-wise," Reynolds said.

"At Adelaide [the Mustangs] had a small advantage, but [in Melbourne] they had quite a large advantage, and that's predominantly an aero-type track.

"Chaz basically started last [on Friday], and I started seventh or 10th or something, and he got to me before the first pitstop. I'm like, 'surely that's not right, in an even category'.

"It was like I was on a hard tyre and he was on a soft tyre. That's how easily he passed me and pulled away. He pulled seconds on me straight away.

"In our sport, everyone's at the top of their game driving-wise... it's beyond obvious."

Former Nissan driver Caruso, who will drive a Tickford Mustang in the enduros later in the year, suggested the COG tests won't find an immediate fix.

"It's difficult to pinpoint if it's the aero... it's too late to make changes. How do [Supercars] quantify exactly what they're going to apply now?" Caruso said.

"If the Mustangs start going slower if they do change the rules, then they're going to kick it up and say, 'wait a second, we're now behind the Holden'.

"Where do you stop, when everybody stops whinging? That's motor racing. It's like any sport, people are going to be blowing up until they're winning."

James Pavey

James Pavey Photo