Written by Mark McAlary
Track Day 03 July 2024
The UOW Motorsport team arrived early at Sydney Motorsport Park and was greeted by a rainy morning. The focus of the track day was skid pan testing—a critical session where the driver navigates a figure-eight circuit to set the fastest lap while experiencing lateral G-forces.
To ensure safety and adapt to the wet conditions, the team fitted wet compound tires, and all wheels were thoroughly checked. After an additional shakedown, the driver was ready for the circuit.
Throughout the day, the weather gradually improved, but the team still had to contend with a wet circuit, so they adjusted the car’s settings to suit the conditions. The driver completed 5 laps per run, allowing the team to collect data across varying conditions.
The first run proved challenging, with control issues due to the older tires and slick surface. After the run, the team observed consistent increases in tire pressure across all four tires, indicating even wear—valuable information for future tuning.
As the track dried out, the team switched back to slick compound tires and continued experimenting with various setups. Adjustments were made to tire pressures, anti-squat, and toe, further refining the car’s performance for the skid pan run.
A unique element of the day was testing the driver’s ability. Our race engineer systems adjusted the car’s setup without notifying the driver, aiming to minimise driver bias and evaluate adaptability whilst driving. These “blind” adjustments helped the team assess how the driver adapted to changes without prior knowledge.
By the end of the day, the team gathered valuable insights into how the car performed under varying conditions, both in terms of the mechanical setup and driver performance. The more conditions varied, the better understanding the team gained of the car’s capabilities. These findings will prove instrumental as preparations for the competition continues.
