Holden star David Reynolds hopes regulation tweaks next year ensure a closer Supercars championship after admitting it had been frustrating playing catch-up with runaway series leader Scott McLaughlin this season.
While Reynolds has not given up on trying to stop McLaughlin at this weekend’s Gold Coast 600, the former Bathurst champion has already cast his mind to the 2020 season due to the Ford star’s dominance.
McLaughlin holds a staggering 622 point championship lead and can secure back-to-back championships on the tourist strip this weekend with two rounds still remaining.
Reynolds was hoping changes adopted next season including reduced downforce and drop in engine power would bring McLaughlin back to the field.
“Hopefully next year it is a bit different with the category. They are going to do a better job with the differences within the cars and they are knocking off a bit of horse power,” Reynolds told AAP.
“It has been frustrating if you are on the bad side of it (Holden), but if you are on the good side (Ford) of it you love life.
“But hopefully it (2020) is a bit more even.”
Reynolds is still backing himself to overhaul McLaughlin on the tight Gold Coast street circuit this weekend thanks to new aerodynamic changes that all Holdens adopted just two rounds ago.
The aero package for Holden is the latest of several changes officials have adopted this year to ensure parity after McLaughlin’s Mustang dominated from the outset in 2019.
Officials introduced a new centre of gravity rule for all cars following the second round, the Melbourne 400 at the Australian Grand Prix round in March, after McLaughlin won five of the first six races.
Then there was an aero reduction slapped on Ford before not one but two aero modifications for Holden, the latest introduced in New Zealand two rounds ago.
“Even though it has been a bit of a shambles of a year as far as parity goes, I actually love that because people are talking about our sport,” Reynolds said of the changes.
“Whatever makes the sport bigger and better I am on board.”
While McLaughlin remains the man to beat, Reynolds said the winner for this weekend’s two 102 lap races may be decided by who claims pole.
Remarkably the pole sitter has claimed 14 of the last 21 completed races on the Gold Coast.
“It is hard to pass here so qualifying is key. But this track suits our car – it likes the short, sharp corners,” Reynolds said.
“And I love the element of risk. If you stuff up here you are into the fence, there are big consequences – I like that.”