Austin Cindric compares Gen3 Supercars Mustang to NASCAR Next Gen car

Down in Australia, Austin Cindric is getting the feel of the Gen3 Supercars Mustang ahead of his series debut later this month. Cindric is taking on the Adelaide finale in two weeks. For now, he’s getting the feel of his new Mustang compared to his NASCAR Mustang.

Suiting up for Tickford Racing, the 2022 Daytona 500 winner is getting used to things. After all, he’s driving on the other side of the car and has to feel the brakes, engine, steering, and other components of the vehicle.

Everyone knows that the Next Gen in NASCAR and Gen3 in Supercars are very similar. Cousin cars, really. So, Austin Cindric’s comments are not very surprising.

“I think in a lot of ways, quite a bit of what I expected,” Cindric said, via Connor O’Brien of V8 Sleuth. “It’s good to feel it out and kind of put everything that I’ve done prep work-wise, have a feel for it, and really put some relevancy behind some of the questions that I may or may not have, work on some of the techniques. I think I’m at that point where you’re trying to work out best practices.”

It sounds like he’s starting to get the hang of things. But he also noted that the car drives better than his usual ride in NASCAR.

Austin Cindric feels Supercars Mustang drives better

When it comes to how the car feels, the Supercars Mustang drives better. At least, that’s what Austin Cindric has said of his Mustang after his weekend behind the wheel at Sandown.

“It drives a lot better,” Cindric said of his Supercars ride. “Well, it’s got more overbody downforce. Even just by looking at the car, it’s a lighter car, grippier tyre, so all the things it does better. A lot of similar concepts, as far as the limitations of the car, the rear grip under braking, a number of other things.

“It’s comparable, but he current generation Cup car is a lot more rigid. Like, I’ve really had to talk myself into using the curb as much as I can with this car. Yeah, it has a bigger effect on the driver, but the car still stays gripped up, whereas if I hit some of these curbs in a Cup car I’d be in the blue tent!”

It makes sense that the Next Gen is less forgiving. After all, it is not a touring car, despite being modeled after one. It is a car that goes from half-mile ovals to road courses to superspeedways and does it all with more or less the same cars week to week.