Ford driver Will Davison has hit out at V8 Supercars’ decision to introduce a mandatory number of pit stops for the upcoming endurance rounds, saying the move will ruin the purity of iconic races like the Bathurst 1000.
While Davison acknowledges the need to accommodate newcomers Nissan and Mercedes, he does not believe the rules should be changed to favour them.
“You want to make sure these new manufacturers investing in the category feel they’ve got a worthwhile shot at winning,” Davison told AAP ahead of Sunday’s Sandown 500.
“Having said that, not every team can win.
“Just because they’ve got another badge on the front, it doesn’t necessarily mean all of a sudden they’ve got to cry for compensation.
“It’s so close now that just because a single team or manufacturer isn’t quite there, it doesn’t necessarily mean all the rules should be changed for them.
“… But we don’t want them throwing the toys out of the pram and leaving, either.”
With Nissan and Mercedes facing higher fuel consumption rates than their Holden and Ford counterparts, V8 officials will force all cars to make at least four pit stops during Sunday’s Sandown 500 to help even the field.
That mandatory minimum is set to jump to eight for Bathurst next month.
V8 Supercars opted against allowing the two new manufacturers to use a different blend of fuel for the enduros, following the controversy around Nissan’s historic 1-2 finish at Winton last month using the fuel.
Davison, second on the championship standings behind Holden’s Jamie Whincup, said the pit stop minimum had thrown a last-minute curveball at their planned enduro strategy but agreed it is probably the best short-term solution to “keep everyone happy”.
“I don’t think it’s ideal,” Davison said.
“It certainly changes the format and the strategy of these two races coming up.
“I don’t think it’s completely genuine, I think it’s a little bit fabricated. I’m a purist and I don’t like fabricating things.
“Where do you draw the line? I don’t know.”
Holden veteran Russell Ingall said it was a big ask for anyone to compete with the 25 years of development enjoyed by the incumbents, adding the sport needed to do the right thing by Nissan and Mercedes.
“We’ve invited these manufacturers into the category, they have to be looked after,” he told AAP.
“It’s not a matter of not being equal. It’s a matter of making them have a pleasant experience in the category so when other manufacturers look at that, they’re more prone to coming in because they see others have been treated fair.
“It’s hard to keep everyone happy, you’re always going to have someone that’s going to have a grizzle.”
Nissan driver Todd Kelly on Monday said the manufacturer could question its V8 Supercar future after plans to use the controversial new fuel blend for Bathurst were thrown out.
