It’s one thing to hear about a car, but it’s another to feel it roar to life under your feet. NASCAR’s own Austin Cindric is finding that out firsthand, and he’s not shy about what he’s discovered. As Cindric gears up for his big debut in the Supercars Championship at the BP Adelaide Grand Final, he’s been down in Australia, tearing up the historic Sandown Raceway in Melbourne.

After hopping out of his slick No. 5 Tickford Racing Ford Mustang, a wildcard entry that’s been turning heads, Cindric couldn’t help but throw a little shade at what he’s used to back home. He was straight-up taken aback by how much better the Gen 3 supercar handles compared to NASCAR’s Next Gen car. It’s the kind of honest, unfiltered take you love to see from a driver.

“Well, it’s got more overbody downforce,” Cindric said, not mincing words. “Even just by looking at the car, it’s a lighter car, grippier tyre, so all the things it does better.” It’s a gut reaction from a guy who lives and breathes this stuff. He feels the difference in his bones.

Cindric Spills the Tea: Supercar vs. Next Gen

You can tell Cindric’s a racer’s racer. He immediately started breaking down the nitty-gritty of the machine. He pointed out that while the cars have some similarities in their limitations, like rear grip when you’re hard on the brakes, the feel is night and day. He described the Next Gen car as “a lot more rigid,” a sentiment that’s been echoed throughout the garage area all season.

He even got a little animated about it. “Like, I’ve really had to talk myself into using the kerb as much as I can with this car,” he admitted. The Supercar, he explained, stays planted and gripped up, letting the driver really attack the track. “If I hit some of these kerbs in a Cup car,” he laughed, “I’d be in the blue tent!” That’s a raw, honest comparison from a driver who knows what it feels like to push a car to its absolute limit and what happens when it pushes back.

Cindric Leaning on a Couple of Legends

You don’t just jump into a new series cold, especially not one as competitive as Supercars. Luckily for Cindric, he’s got some heavy hitters in his corner. He’s been blowing up the phones of two of the best to ever do it in that series: Scott McLaughlin and Shane van Gisbergen. These guys are champions, legends, and now, they’re Cindric’s personal coaches.

McLaughlin, a fellow Team Penske driver over in IndyCar and a three-time Supercars champ, has been practically living this experience with Cindric. “He has texted me every single day,” Cindric shared. “I think he is as excited about this as much as I am.” That’s the kind of support that makes all the difference.

McLaughlin’s basically giving him the full playbook, telling him to send data, text after every session, and soaking up every detail. It’s that bond between racers, that shared passion for finding speed, that’s just plain cool to see.

And then there’s SVG. Shane van Gisbergen, another three-time champ who made a hell of a splash in NASCAR himself, has also been an open book. Cindric knows he’s got a direct line to one of the most talented drivers on the planet. Van Gisbergen even told reporters he’s ready and waiting for the questions.

When asked what advice he had for Cindric outside the car, SVG, in his classic Kiwi style, joked, “Yeah, stop in Australia and leave, go to New Zealand, it’s way better.” But he got serious quick, noting that the three-day race weekend will give Cindric plenty of seat time to get up to speed.

Final Thoughts

With raw firepower in his corner, Cindric is setting himself up for the best possible run. He’s soaking up decades of combined experience, trying to fast-track his learning curve before he hits the track for real. It’s a smart move from a driver who knows that in racing, you take every single advantage you can get. This isn’t just a vacation for Cindric. It’s a mission. And he’s coming prepared.

---