Preview: Albert Park Ready to Make History

The opening day of the FORMULA 1 ROLEX AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX 2023 is set to be a big one, with the Supercars and Porsche Carrera Cup classes set to race on Thursday.

The new Gen3 Supercars will make history in the Beaurepaires Melbourne SuperSprint and will race on the track for the first time on a Thursday. Following two Practice sessions, set for 11:25 am and 1:15 pm, Qualifying for the opening two-weekend races is scheduled for 2:45 pm and 3:10 pm, with the race at 5:40 pm.

To throw a curveball at the teams, the first Qualifying session will see the drivers on the harder of the two available tyre compounds, while the softer, faster tyre will feature in the second Qualifying session. In the 19-lap race itself, all drivers will be required to make a compulsory pitstop and to use both compounds of tyres.

That will challenge all the drivers, with points leader Chaz Mostert out to preserve the 45-point gap he built in the opening round of the Supercars season two weeks ago in Newcastle. The Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang driver faces a number of challenges, notably from defending Champion Shane van Gisbergen, who was controversially disqualified from a win in the opening race of the season because of a technical infringement with his Red Bull Ampol Chevrolet Camaro.

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The new Gen3 cars proved to be a great hit at their debut appearance at Newcastle, and weather permitting, all eyes will be watching to see whether the new racers can eclipse Scott Pye’s lap record of 1m46.006s, set last year.

In the Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup races, history of another kind beckons. In the nine previous appearances at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit, there have been nine different winners, and it is far from unlikely that a 10^th name could be added to that honour roll this time around.

Out to put a stop to that trend will be Max Vidau, who triumphed last year, while he faces challenges from rising stars like Melbourne’s Chris Pancione and Nick McBride. As well, former Bathurst winner Luke Youlden and former Supercars regular Chris Pither will be racing this weekend, while former class champion Alex Davison returns to take on the new generation of Porsche racers.

Speaking of which, Ryder Quinn will make history of his own as Carrera Cup’s first third-generation driver, following in the wheel tracks of his grandfather Tony and father Klark.

The 30 Porsche drivers will kick off the weekend’s on-track action with a 30-minute Practice session at 10:30 am and Qualifying at 12:30 pm, prior to their opening race at 4:45 pm.