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More work is needed on Prodrive’s engine package to help bridge the gap to Triple Eight, says team co-owner Rod Nash.
A dominant force for much of 2015, Prodrive has just one race victory to its name this year, recorded by Mark Winterbottom at Barbagallo in May.
While the move to more soft tyre races has clearly hurt the Falcon squad, engine performance has also come under the spotlight at recent events.
Chaz Mostert was third in yesterday’s second race but could do nothing to stop Red Bull duo Shane van Gisbergen and Jamie Whincup pulling away at the front.
Nash says it was the clearest sign yet that his team’s engines have fallen behind that of their nearest rivals.
“Set-up is always party to it, but yesterday’s races are a prime example that it’s more engine wise (where we’re struggling),” he told Speedcafe.com.
“There’s not much in it due to our parity rules, but there’s a clear straight-line speed difference.
“Chaz was right there while the front two were battling but we’re just a little bit on the wrong side of the fence (with the engine).
“It’s definitely contributed to our lack of race wins and we’ve got stuff going on at the moment that we’re trying to get into the car.”
With most teams, including Prodrive, thought to be right on the cumulative power cap introduced by Supercars in 2014, development centres around where the power is delivered within the rev range.
“With the parity you can’t just throw big things at it because it’ll be knocked back,” continued Nash.
“It’s not a huge chunk of things, but it’s about matching the whole package of components that makes the little difference that puts you at the front.
“We’re certainly not in a position where we’re throwing the baby out with the bath water when its comes to the cars.
“We got the jump on Triple Eight last year and brought the bacon home.
“They had it this year and we haven’t been able to turn it around.
“But we’re still up there with the front-runners and Frosty and Chaz are driving every bit as well as Jamie and Shane.”
Two more 100km sprint races will take place at Pukekohe today to conclude the ITM Auckland Super Sprint.
