RAGING RED BULL RARING TO GO WITH SIX APPEAL
THE V6 engine is a lap closer to making it to the Supercars grid after Triple Eight Race Engineering tested for the first time this week.
Red Bull Racing tested the “Sandman” car over 256km at the Norwell Motorplex here on the Gold Coast.
Holden stars Craig Lowndes, Jamie Whincup and Steven Richards became the first drivers to pilot a V6 Supercar when they took turns punching out laps as team officials watched on.
Triple Eight last month announced it would race a wildcard V6 entry next year before ditching the V8 engine in 2018.
Triple Eight boss Roland Dane last night confirmed the V6 test was completed on Monday and Tuesday.
“Yes we have run it. We ran the engine on Monday and Tuesday,” he said.
Dane was reluctant to reveal details about the engine or the program that will end the long-running Australian V8 focus.
But he said that the engine was powerful enough to match the V8.
“The power is not an issue with the turbo,’’ Dane said.
“But we have to make the delivery as good and as linear as a V8. We don’t underestimate the amount of work we have to do.
“But we are quietly pleased with what we have done so far and we will continue to test behind close doors so we can get it right and be there or there- abouts when we run it as a wildcard next year.’’
Dane confirmed two of his full-time drivers completed the test along with endurance star Richards.
“All three have driven it and Shane (van Gisbergen) would have loved to.”