Andrew Edwards, Race Engineer for the #888 Ford Mustang and 2024 Supercars Championship winner Will Brown, gives an in depth preview of the upcoming Townsville 500 round.
Townsville is the first and one of three street circuits on the calendar, the other two being Finals races at Gold Coast and Adelaide. What changes in set up and driving style for a street circuit compared to other races?
Townsville is a little different in what is needed from some on the circuits we have been to, but a lot of the learning we have had this year will guide us for this round. Townsville is not just about being able to ride the big kerbs, it requires a stable entry, something that has been a challenge this year, very strong turn mid-corner turn, and good drive. Townsville is one of the highest tyre degradation circuits on the calendar, so a setup that looks after the rear tyres pays off big during the race.
Heat again will be a factor in Townsville. What kind of heat training has Will done this season, did it help in Darwin, and how do you coach a driver through long races under those conditions?
To prepare for Townsville the drivers will be building their heat stress capacity as they get closer to the race. This means doing training in elevated conditions which triggers changes in the body to cope better in race conditions. Engineers can support drivers in hot races by creating a cooler cabin through heat shielding and ducting, along with cooling devices like chilled helmet air and cool suits. You will also hear engineers reminding drivers to “have a drink” during the race in a effort to stay as hydrated as possible.
Three rounds left in the Sprint Cup – currently 7th in the Drivers Championship. Where ideally do you want the #888 car to be in the Top Ten going into Enduro Cup? Is the focus on consistent results and developing the car, or set ups to fight for race wins?
With three rounds left in the Sprint Cup we’re still focused on developing the car to be able to challenge for wins on a regular basis. As always, the focus is on the process and constantly improving everything we do rather than focusing on results. There’s 83 points to get to P6 in the Championship, which is quite a gap. In the last five races we have finished no worse than P5. If we can improve the car, I believe we can bridge this gap and continue to climb the ladder which puts us in a stronger position come playoffs.
With the gap in between rounds Will has been in Austria driving a Supercar at the Formula 1 Grand Prix. How important is it for drivers to have a break during the season? Does any driving, even racing around the Red Bull Ring help and can you and Will learn anything?
It’s been an exciting trip for Will to spend time in Austria at the F1 and the Red Bull driver centre. These trips can recharge the batteries, but as importantly they can expose you to new ways of thinking and doing things that can improve what we do back home. In terms of laps in the Supercar at Red Bull Ring, it’s not like a test day where we are learning what different setup changes do, but almost any time in a racecar is useful in keeping the driver sharp. We only do fourteen race weekends and two test days a year, so the opportunity to practice your craft is very limited. A lot of top-level drivers also drive in other categories like GT or Transam to get race kilometres in to keep prepared for the demands of the Supercars season – it is important.
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