This week, Trans Tasman Racing’s Josh Anderson has been thrown the keys to Sandown Raceway, to explain what is important to getting around the challenging 3.104km precinct.

Qualifying

While it’s an endurance race, don’t underestimate the importance of a good qualifying position at Sandown. A strong grid position makes the first stint so much easier, especially if your codriver is starting the race. 500km passes quickly around here!

Exit Drive

Sandown is essentially two drag strips, so making sure your car gets off Turn 4 and the last chicane well is absolutely key, both for one lap speed and looking after the tyres over a stint.

Straight Line Speed

Following on from this, you also want to make sure your car is quick enough down the straight to pass cars, so choosing the right wing angle is essential. It’s much easier to pass someone down the straights than outbraking them!

Strategy

Getting the strategy right is also a key determinant of your result on Friday night, both managing your tyre/fuel strategy and your codriver laps. Any mistakes here will cost you dearly, moreso than at Bathurst.

Getting your codriver comfortable

The final key point for Sandown is that this is the first two-driver race for the season! While it may seem obvious, any effort you can put into helping your codriver be more comfortable in the car is only going to help your own result. If you can work with your codriver to bring them up to speed, the strategic flexibility that opens up could be the difference between winning and losing.

Josh Anderson’s five key points highlight plenty of interesting keys to getting it right around the Sandown layout. Will any of the drivers use any of these come Friday evening?