Slade tops Sydney tyre test at halfway

Tim Slade has topped the timesheets in the morning session of the official tyre test at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Brad Jones Racing driver clocked a session best 1:29.09s on the super-soft compound as teams evaluated the new construction of Dunlop tyre to be used this season.

Teams have 2016 rubber at their disposal for use during the test in addition to the four soft and four super soft sets of the new tyres.

Slade managed to log 68 laps during his run utilising both the soft and super-soft compounds.

The South Australian says the change in the rubber is not as pronounced as first thought.

“The tyres are probably not as different as what I expected,” Slade told Speedcafe.com.

“There has obviously been a big hype and build up to today because it is the first time the majority of people have run the new tyres.

“There are a few little differences but nothing major. It just feels like a tyre that provides more grip and maybe a little bit more responsive.

“We ran everything. There wasn’t much difference between the two tyres (compounds).”

Craig Lowndes was second in the TeamVortex Commodore with his best time arriving on the super-soft tyres.

The three-time Supercars champion was 0.3s adrift of Slade after his 54 laps.

David Reynolds was third fastest for Erebus on the super-soft ahead of Will Davison, Fabian Coulthard, Jamie Whincup, Rick Kelly, Chaz Mostert, Scott McLaughlin and James Moffat, who completed the top 10.

Former champion Mark Winterbottom was 12th with Prodrive electing to run the new rubber at the end of the day.

Teenager Alex Rullo enjoyed an encouraging showing in 16th spot for Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport while Aaren Russell and Matt Chahda shared the sister #3 entry.

Garth Tander enjoyed a trouble-free first run out in the newly built Garry Rogers Motorsport Holden Commodore.

The former HRT driver was 20th utilising only the 2017 soft compound so far.

“We have only run on the soft and it is considerably different in some aspects,” Tander told Speedcafe.com.

“It is hard to get a comparison for me because I’m in a different car.

“It feels like the initial response from the front tyre is very good.

“The car and the ergonomics have been fantastic.

“It does have different characteristics compared to the Walkinshaw car.”

Rookie Simona de Silvestro was 2.6s shy of the pace having completed 47 laps in in the #78 Nissan Altima.

Meanwhile, Erebus Motorsport’s Dale Wood completed just 19 laps after suffering a mechanical issue which has now been rectified.

The session saw co-drivers Tony D’Alberto (DJR Team Penske), Karl Reindler (Preston Hire Racing) Warren Luff (Mobil HSV Racing) and James Golding (GRM) cut laps.

Jack Le Brocq (Nissan Motorsport), Jack Perkins (Mobil HSV Racing) are set to feature in the afternoon while David Wall is with the Nissan team today.

Wall is yet to be confirmed as a co-driver for the Braeside operation.

Result: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship Tyre Test, Sydney Motorsport Park