Stone Brothers Racing is expected to become the third team to hit the track with a Car of the Future V8 Supercar when it rolls out its first new-generation chassis later this month.
The three-time championship winning squad had planned on completing a shakedown as early as next week, but delays in receiving rear-end components from a supplier will see its maiden COTF test undertaken directly after the September 14-16 Dick Smith Sandown 500 weekend.
While Speedcafe.com understands that negotiations over a potential switch to Mercedes-Benz bodywork and engines for next season continue, the first car will roll-out at Queensland Raceway as a Ford Falcon FG.
Unwilling to comment on the manufacturer situation, SBR team principal Ross Stone says that his team is focussed on getting its first car on-track.
“We're only going to do it when it's ready,” Stone told Speedcafe.com of testing its first car.
“At the moment, we're waiting for a rear spindle and a few bits and pieces that we don't make in-house.
“We thought about running it next week, but that's putting too much pressure on us. We simply don't have the parts.
“FPR had to run some parts from the prototype to get going, but we hope to have everything we need by Sandown so we can do the test the week after.”
Triple Eight and Ford Performance Racing are the only teams to have begun the on-track phase of their COTF development programs to date, with FPR's first full test day scheduled for early next week.
The three teams are all expected to complete the second of their two ‘manufacturer days' together at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 15.