SUPER TEST

Tassie track will push new cars, says Whincup

REIGNING champion Jamie Whincup says Symmons Plains will be a “true test” for the all-new ZB Commodore supercars.

After winning Round 2 at the Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix across four gruel- ling races and claiming the Larry Perkins Cup, the seventime champion can’t wait to hit Tasmania in his 635-horsepower Red Bull Holden.

The supercars arrive today aboard two ships into Burnie and Devonport ahead of the first practice session on Friday.

The ZB Commodore is the weapon of choice for eight supercars teams, including Whincup’s Red Bull Racing. Whincup likes his new ride. “It has been performing well so far this year,” said Whincup, who is sixth in the championship. “Tassie will be a true test because it’s very much a high-speed, aerodynamic cir- cuit, so it’s a good opportunity to test the car and see if it’s as good as we think it is.”

Whincup said the best asset of a race car was balance.

“You need balance from front to rear, and this car seems to have very good balance from front to rear,” he said.

It will be the first glimpse of the ZB Commodore — the newgeneration Opel-based car — for Tassie fans.

“It looks fantastic,” Whincup said. “If it performs half as good as it looks, we should be OK.”

Whincup had an average start to the season in Adelaide.

“It was disappointing — we were quick in qualifying and quick in the races, but we just didn’t piece it all,” he said.

He was slow to get his campaign started last year but ended up with another title. “I was never too far behind — never more than 100 points down,” he said.

“I felt like I was there or thereabouts, hanging in there all year and I was lucky enough to get on top at the end.”

Whincup said he doesn’t have a goal for this year.

“Not really — have fun and be good to your mother,” he said.