Photo: Supercars

Wild cards James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi focused on learning and adapting

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Bathurst 1000 wild card entrants James Hinchcliffe and Alexander Rossi have said they’re constantly learning, as the pair of Indycar stars try to adapt to driving a Supercar around Mount Panorama.

The North American duo are making their first starts in the iconic Australian Supercars Championship race this year with Walkinshaw Andretti United, driving the #27 Holden Commodore which is a world away from their usual Schmidt Peterson Motorsports and Andretti Autosports open-wheelers.

For Hinchcliffe, it’s not the Canadian’s first time in a Supercar, last driving for Garry Rogers Motorsport at the Gold Coast 600 in 2012 when international drivers were required for that round.

Despite having seat time previously, the cars have now evolved and changed to the Car of the Future platform. Combined with a lack of seat time at the track, Hinchcliffe says it’s been a steep learning experience.

“For us, there’s a lot to learn with the car and the track, having never really driven the car much or seen the track before,” said the 2016 Indy 500 pole sitter to TouringCarTimes.

“I’ve never seen a Supercar driven in the wet let alone drive one in the wet, there was a lot thrown at us today.

“It’s kind of been the theme of the weekend, getting thrown in the deep end and having to figure it out but the team’s done a great job preparing us both and I think Alex did a great job in qualifying, dealing with the conditions.

“Now we’ve got 1000 kilometres to get through and hopefully be fighting at the end on Sunday.”

After qualifying the car in 25th, just behind the Kostecki Brothers Racing wildcard entry of Jake and Brodie Kostecki, 2016 Indy 500 winner Rossi says that all they can do it roll out and improve in each outing.

“The big thing to keep in mind is it’s new drivers and a new car,” Rossi said.

“I don’t even think the other wildcard is fair in comparison. We’re just taking it one session at a time and improving each time which is all we can do I think.”