Car set-up in Sydney 'key' amid mixed tyre return

For the first time in 2021, Supercars teams will have a mix of Dunlop Hard and Soft compound tyres at their disposal.

This weekend’s ARMOR ALL Sydney SuperNight will feature mixed compound racing for the first time since 2020.

The second event will see teams handed five sets of event-marked Softs and three sets of Hards.

Weather pending, both compounds must be used in the race. At least two tyres have be fitted during the mandatory pit stop in each race.

Two different compounds cannot be used on a car at any one time. Cars must run either four Softs or four Hards at any given time.

Last weekend’s Bunnings Trade Sydney SuperNight, from qualifying onwards, was completed with just five sets of soft tyres.

Soft tyres allow for faster lap times, but they degrade at a much quicker rate.

However, teams will have five cracks at brand new Softs versus just two in 2020.

Still, how teams manage tyres will be a major talking point - but car set-up will remain critical to having a fast and reliable car at Sydney Motorsport Park.

“Last weekend, tyre deg was predictable, perhaps more so than last year,” Team 18 driver Scott Pye told Supercars.com.

“Mixed tyre compound racing is going to change it all up again, how teams attack the races.

“Deg will still play a role, but it’s how you manage it compound on compound.”

Mixed tyre racing saw a number of surprise results in Sydney last year; notably, Jack Le Brocq led home Andre Heimgartner and Todd Hazelwood in the finale.

This weekend will feature two night races

Mixed compound racing will return for the fourth, which will feature two 250km races. There, teams will have seven sets of Hards and two Super Soft sets. The Super Soft tyres cannot be used in any other session other than the two races.

The third event will feature the same tyre format as last weekend.

In 2021, the allocations are different - but nailing set-up is a key factor all the same.

“Some cars suit longer corners, others suit big braking zones,” Pye explained.

“Unless you can find a set-up that works, you’re going to struggle. It’s the same anywhere we go; set-up is key.

“Tyres are one thing, but everyone gets the same allocation at the start of the weekend.

“It’s how you set the car up so you can get the tyre to work.”

'I think we’ll see a similar order to last weekend'

Shell V-Power Racing Team Mustangs and Erebus Motorsport Commodores were the class of the field last weekend.

Red Bull Ampol Racing managed to sneak a victory via Shane van Gisbergen, but Anton De Pasquale appears to be a cut above.

Tyres management will be critical, and with the weekend to feature a night race on Saturday and Sunday, the ARMOR ALL Sydney SuperNight looms to provide some of the best racing yet.

“Some tracks suit some cars, and I think we’ll see a similar order to last weekend,” Pye said.

“I think Triple Eight cars have traditionally struggled at this track.

“Yes, Shane won - they’re still fast - but the operating window is quite small.

“We saw last weekend that everyone got about five or 10 laps out of the tyre before the deficit to the quick guys shows.

“Overtaking is the big challenge; unless you have a huge tyre advantage, you will have needed to save your tyres for an attack."

Tickets for the three upcoming Sydney events are on sale now.