Preparations for the brand new season, and the introduction of the Gen3 guidelines, ramped up at Sydney Motorsport Park midweek with all 25 automobiles working collectively for the primary time.
For Walkinshaw Andretti United and drivers Mostert and Nick Percat it was the primary check day correct, the group having solely carried out a single shakedown with its Gen3 Ford Mustangs at Winton final week.
The pair ended the day within the second half of the timesheet, Mostert the very best of the 2, and second-best of the Ford Mustangs, in thirteenth amid accusations of sandbagging by Blue Oval groups.
Reflecting on the weather-affected day, Mostert admitted there’s work to do in the case of unlocking pace from the Gen3 package deal, which incorporates a dramatic drop in downforce in comparison with the Gen2 automobiles.
“I am nonetheless not precisely certain the right way to extract the pace from the automobile, however I felt a bit extra comfy than I did the primary day,” he mentioned.
“It is like something, the [ergonomics are] so totally different contained in the automobile as a result of it is a totally different chassis, so we have nonetheless obtained to make some modifications there.
“We performed round with a little bit little bit of set-up. We’re nonetheless searching, for certain. Who is aware of the place it should find yourself.
“Hopefully we get one other [test] day earlier than Newcastle. At the very least working [at SMP] provides us some extra concepts so we will attempt to change our philosophies and preserve searching.”
When pressed on whether or not his consolation points had been ergonomics, a constant subject for taller drivers all through the Gen3 improvement, or automobile behaviour, Mostert added: “First comfy, after which there’s the consolation of looking for the restrict of the automobile.
“With shedding the aero, its made the automobile a bit extra numb. So the set-up has to vary. You possibly can’t run final yr’s set-up and anticipate it to work.
“These items are going to take time and all-in-all, it was a profitable check. In the midst of the day I did not assume it could be, however then I obtained to strive a pair little issues that made it worse in some space, and made it higher in others.
“It provides us some route.”
Percat was simply twenty fourth quickest on the check after his closing run was scuppered by a free wheel.
Each automobiles are anticipated to participate in a closing check day at Winton subsequent Wednesday.
