Soft tyres loom as Super Sprint solution

Injecting soft compound tyres into future Super Sprint races looms as a likely solution to an ongoing debate over how to spice up the current format.

The V8 Supercars Commission elected against making changes to the format on Thursday, where it ratified only an extra set of hard compound practice tyres per car for six further events.

Speedcafe.com understands, however, that moves are also underway for Dunlop to supply an extra helping of the soft compound tyre as part of its rejigged production schedule.

The tyres are thought likely to be used in one of the two 60km races on the Saturday at the majority of the five remaining Super Sprint meetings.

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The matter is expected to be discussed further in the next Commission meeting, scheduled between Winton and Hidden Valley.

V8 Supercars has declined to comment on whether any changes remain under consideration following a statement this morning that confirmed no format alterations were made on Thursday.

Friday practice pace-setter Chaz Mostert has backed the suggestion of adding softs into the Saturday Super Sprint mix if the 60km races are unable to be extended.

“The fans want to see a more action packed race and if they can’t change the 60km race maybe they can look at putting a soft tyre on for the 60km race,” said Mostert.

“I think it always makes it a bit more exciting for passing moves and stuff like that. It’s a bit hard on the hard (tyre) when you’re trying to pass people on the same quality (due to little degradation).”

Holden Racing Team star James Courtney also expressed disappointment that the 60km races are set to stay, but sympathises with V8 Supercars’ position.

“I think its definitely wrong, everyone knows it and everyone is saying it,” he said of keeping the current race format.

“The fans are asking for something different but there’s a lot of things that people don’t know about behind the scenes.

“There are contracts and deals in place with television and promoters and sponsors. Contractually we’re obliged to continue to do this.

“I don’t think it’s V8 Supercars not wanting to do it, I think their hands are tied because of contracts with government and TV networks and all of that sort of stuff.”

Nissan Motorsport’s James Moffat is also in favour of longer races but says that the category needs to stop altering its formats year-to-year.

“We just keep changing the format and we’re probably trying to do that to bring teams that perform well back to the rest of the field,” said Moffat.

“But it’s up to the other teams to perform better so we don’t have to change the formats.

“At the end of the day it is what it is. You have to race to the formats and we’ve just got to deal with it.”