IRC SD hits the track

Photos: MTR Images

The racing season may have concluded, but last week the Innovation Race Cars (IRC) SD model made its on track debut at Queensland Raceway.

The Innovation Race Cars Super Development (SD) model designed by PACE Innovations is unique to the range, as it is designed for professional drivers and aspiring professionals.

In the SD, traction control and ABS have been disabled, it also runs with less aero as it has a different splitter and smaller rear wing.

The SD made its on track debut last Sunday at Queensland Raceway in the hands of two-time Carrera Cup Series winner and Supercars Championship co-driver Harri Jones.

IRC owner Danny Stutterd was delighted with the debut of the SD, labelling the test very successful.

“The IRC SD car was launched last Monday, but we did a bit of a test session on the Sunday just to make sure it was all good,” Stutterd said.

“Thanks to Harri Jones and Harri Jones Motorsport for helping shake the car down and getting it right.

“It was hugely successful, car ran faultlessly for the two days, like any new car, a little bit of fine tunings to get it right, but at the end of the two days, we're really pleased with it.

“It’s doing exactly what we want to do, it's a car that's aimed for pros and young drivers that are looking to stay sharp and also reach the pinnacle of Australia motorsport.

“The lap times we were targeting were certainly reached. We worked pretty hard on back-to-back runs with my IRC GT car and the IRC SD.

“We actually did a simulation where both cars went out and had a go at each other under pace.

“It’s a development program we've been talking about for a little while. It fits in a nice little space in Australian motorsport that hopefully encourages more kids or pro drivers to try and help bridge the pinnacle of Australian motorsport.

“Harri was brilliant for the two days, a real professional working with PACE Innovations own Paul Ceprnich on the engineering side. Harri's feedback was invaluable and got the result we wanted to achieve, if not a little bit better, I can't thank him enough.”

Jones himself was impressed by the SD model and feels that Pace Innovations has perfectly executed the IRC model it was tasked to create.

“It was incredible to be honest,” Jones said. “It was a different beast altogether to the IRC GT car.

“I've driven the GT car a fare few times in the past, but to have all the driving aids stripped away, a sequential stick shifter, a little bit less aero, all of that just added to the overall driving experience in my opinion.

“I think they've hit the nail on the head in terms of achieving that goal.

“It is right-hand-drive, sequential shifts, and running with no ABS and traction control, you couldn't really ask for much more.

“The SD car is definitely more challenging to drive than the IRC GT car. The SD car is a lot more raw, a lot more unforgiving, but just as exciting to drive.

“What’s really cool is that the SD car comes in multiple different body styles, the American look, Euro bodyshell or the Model A.”

The IRC SD will make its race debut at Round 1 of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series Season 4 – 2026 at the Shell V-Power Motorsport Park in South Australia from March 13-15.