Newcastle circuit tweaked ahead of season finale

The Newcastle street circuit has undergone a small tweak ahead of the 2019 Supercars Championship season finale next weekend.

The hairpin at Turn 11 has been tightened up, with the apex pushed deeper into the run-off, in an attempt to improve overtaking after feedback from drivers and a review of the circuit design.

The changes, which have been made by moving temporary barriers, mean there will be slightly more straight on the run up to the corner.

Work has also been undertaken to resurface parts of the circuit to provide drivers with additional levels of grip.

“We’re always looking for improvements, always looking at ways to make the track more enjoyable to drive on, plus offer more passing opportunities,” Triple Eight racer Jamie Whincup said. “I think the change down here at Turn 11 is exactly that. We’ve been talking about it for a couple of years.

“It’s a crazy section, you’re right in between fifth and sixth gear. Now with the transaxle change, it’ll definitely be top gear as we come into this last little left-hand kink before we brake into the last section.

“We don’t have ABS on our cars, so the inside-front wheel, all it wants to do is lock-up and run you off into the harbour.

“Braking is really difficult and if a car had a little bit of an advantage, you could get close to the inside but there wasn’t quite enough room to go and make the pass.

“What the change is going to make is a little more opportunity to be able to dive to the inside and complete the pass, which I think is a plus.”