Did you know that a former Formula 1 aerodynamicist claims to have outsmarted the Supercars testing system to gain a massive performance advantage? This revelation is set to shake up the racing world, as it exposes a clever loophole that could change how we view fairness in motorsport.
The story comes from Nick Wirth, a renowned expert in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and the head of Wirth Research in the UK. Wirth was approached by Holden’s homologation team, Triple Eight, to design the aero package for the ZB Commodore ahead of its 2018 Supercars debut. But here’s where it gets controversial: Wirth admits to exploiting the VCAT testing system—a highly controlled, airport runway-based method used by Supercars to measure and adjust downforce levels for new models—to gain an unfair edge.
And this is the part most people miss: Wirth claims he designed the aero package to stall during VCAT testing, making the car appear legal while actually generating significantly more downforce in race conditions. How did he pull this off? By leveraging the control brake ducts used during VCAT, which were different from the ones used in actual races. This discrepancy, Wirth says, created an ‘opportunity’ to bend the rules.
In simpler terms, Wirth’s team used CFD modeling to identify how the car’s aerodynamics would behave with both the VCAT brake ducts and the race-spec ducts. They then engineered the aero package to effectively ‘switch off’ when the VCAT measuring equipment was attached, ensuring it passed homologation. But once the race ducts were fitted, the car produced two and a half times more downforce than what was measured during testing. Wirth boldly asserts that Triple Eight had no idea about this ingenious workaround.
‘We used the rules to beat the rules,’ Wirth said during his appearance on The Hard Compound YouTube channel. ‘Supercars made one mistake: they used their own brake ducts for VCAT, which were different from the ones we used in the race bodywork. I saw that as an opportunity.’
Wirth’s team meticulously modeled every component, from the brake ducts to the load cells used in VCAT, to ensure their design would exploit this flaw. ‘We developed technology that used their own measurement system against them,’ he explained. ‘When Triple Eight’s drivers first tested the car, they were stunned. They said there was no way it would pass homologation—it was just glued to the ground.’
Here’s the kicker: Wirth admits he’s never shared this story with Triple Eight or Supercars officials. ‘It’s just a bit of fun,’ he said, ‘but I’m sure some people at Supercars might grind their teeth when they hear this.’
Despite this clever trickery, the ZB Commodore didn’t win the Supercars title in its debut year, with Scott McLaughlin claiming the crown in the FG-X Ford Falcon. However, the ZB later dominated the Gen2 era, securing two consecutive titles in 2021 and 2022 under Shane van Gisbergen’s stewardship. Meanwhile, Ford and DJR Team Penske responded with their own aero powerhouse, the Gen2 Mustang, which helped McLaughlin secure two more titles.
But here’s the question that’ll spark debate: Was Wirth’s exploit a brilliant example of engineering ingenuity, or did it cross the line into unethical territory? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is one controversy that’s sure to rev up opinions!
