Drivers prefer pit stops

A number of leading drivers have questioned the format being used at the ITM Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe Park Raceway this weekend.

Four 100km sprint races have been scheduled, with compulsory pit stops and strategy not a factor in the racing.

That goes against what happens at every other round of the championship. In previous years, two short sprint races were contested on the Saturday with a longer Sunday race, when strategy became a key component.

The series moved this year to staging a single race on both Saturday and Sunday to better improve the contest, which has been warmly received. But the different format was set for Pukekohe to save teams money lugging the necessary refuelling equipment on international flights.

In the series’ penultimate meet, there wasn’t a successful overtaking move by the top seven drivers across 70 laps except for moves off the grid. Hot competition between the series-leading Red Bull duo of Shane Van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup gave the big crowd plenty to cheer but it was hard to shake the impression that Kiwi racing fans were being short-changed.

Volvo driver Scott McLaughlin is not in favour of the format.

“I personally don’t like it,” the New Zealander said. “I understand why we do it — saving costs on the fuel rigs and all that sort of stuff. I personally think a strategy always mixes things up. What we have done is help the cashflow, especially these fly-by races.”

Chaz Mostert, who finished on the podium in yesterday’s second race, agrees that going away from what has worked at other venues all season has led to dull races.

“We have been used to our format all year where you wait for pit stops or new tyres to make a move on someone but here, if you want to move forward, you really need to have a crack.”