V8 Supercar: Switch to softer rubber for 2016

V8 Supercars will shift to conduct the majority of its 2016 racing on what had been its soft option tire.

The softer Dunlop rubber will be the used at every event except for the Bathurst 1000, the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix support races and at Phillip Island. Each car's tire allocation will also increase from 324 to 400 for the year, following complaints about a lack of rubber for practice and testing. A variety of super-soft compounds were tested at Queensland Raceway earlier in this year, but will not be adopted.

Among the race format changes, a 120km race with a mandatory pit stop will replace the existing pair of 60km races on Saturdays in the 'supersprint' format used at the majority of venues. The new Malaysian event and New Zealand round at Pukekohe will feature four, 100km races. Sydney's finale will return to a pair of 250km races, while Adelaide's opener stays with two, 125km Saturday races and a 250km race on Sunday.

"Next year's race formats are great for both drivers and fans – V8 Supercars has listened and I think we will all be better off for the changes," Prodrive's championship leader Mark Winterbottom said. "The soft tire generates great racing and the challenge of trying to make it last as long as possible will be greater next year given it is going to be used everywhere but Bathurst, Phillip Island and the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.

"The single race format on Saturday at the supersprint events is also going to spice things up as with a compulsory stop it brings strategy back into the first day of racing. The bigger bank of tires is also a boost so on paper it looks like we are all in for a great year of racing in 2016 no matter the format."

Originally on Autosport.com