SUSTAINABLESUPERCARS?!

We’re on the verge of the biggest changes to hit Supercars since they introduced the ditched group A and went with 5.0s, way back in ’93. Gen 3 has been in the works for some time, and while they should have been on track and racing by now, a string of delays has meant that date is now pushed out to 2022. But progress has been made and we’ve now had our first look at the new, much cheaper power plants in the hands of SVG. As the series aims to cut build costs by over half and operating costs by up to 40 percent, one of the biggest shifts has been to control engines, supplied from one of two suppliers — with KRE supplying GM power plants, and Mostech Race Engines supplying Fords. While the exact details are yet to be set in stone, what we do know is the GM engines are 5.7, and the Fords 5.4. Both engines start life as crate engines out of the USA, and use widely available parts to keep costs down. While exact details are tightly held, the engines shown in the TA2 Triple Eight were tested under the umbrella of their role as General Motors’ homologation team. They appear to be LS-based and run a Fast LSXR 102mm manifold. The goal with the new power plants is to bring the power output down to around 600hp (currently it’s 645hp). “Taking 50 to 60 horsepower out of the engine allows us to go with a slightly different architecture, and allows us to push the engine for longer in its service life and interval life,” explains Adrian Burgess, category head of motorsport. “With a 600-horsepower engine, we’re targeting a 10,000-kilometre life before it needs a full rebuild.” A reduced power output doesn’t mean the cars will be slower, as there will also be a huge 60 percent-odd reduction in downforce, so expect this to make the racing slightly more action packed.