For the primary time within the sequence’ 25-year historical past, Supercars will change to a three-stage cut up season, with the opening eight rounds counting for a Dash Cup and the 2 endurance races figuring out an Enduro Cup champion.
Ought to these be two completely different drivers, each can be seeded into the ultimate three occasions together with nonetheless many different drivers are wanted to make 10, and drivers can be eradicated till solely 4 are left to vie for the title on the ultimate occasion, the Adelaide 500.
There will even be level resets, with all 10 drivers going to the primary Finals race on the Gold Coast stage on 3000 factors, after which 4000 for the subsequent race, at Sandown. Any driver who wins on the Gold Coast and Sandown can be routinely seeded into the ultimate 4 to stay in title rivalry for Adelaide, together with the subsequent two highest point-scorers.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard defined, “The emphasis was on bettering the racing product and giving drivers the chance to at all times assault with out an exterior issue stopping them from being aggressive.
“Our followers needed extra pleasure, extra unpredictability, and a real take a look at to seek out the most effective champion. The Finals sequence will do exactly that.
“With factors resetting and drivers being eradicated, we’ve created an surroundings the place the strain can be at its highest, and solely the most effective will prevail.
“This format is about to alter how we crown a champion, and we’re assured it can hold followers on the sting of their seats till the final lap.”
Will Brown, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Picture by: Edge Photographics
Supercars has additionally introduced format modifications for the 13-event sequence, which is up from one in 2024. Each spherical aside from at Albert Park will characteristic a Prime 10 Shootout for pole place, and completely different tyre compounds can be used for every Saturday Dash race and its respective qualifying session at most Dash rounds.
Groups and drivers will even have to deal with new comfortable and supersoft tyre compounds launched by Dunlop, with the earlier exhausting and comfortable tyres to be discontinued.
The extra spherical and format modifications imply the sequence will characteristic 10 extra races, and an extra 1200km of racing in comparison with 2024, with a complete of 6695km of competitors.
As beforehand reported, the normal pre-Bathurst 500km endurance race will transfer to The Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia whereas former 500 venue Sandown will host the penultimate spherical, and can replicate the Adelaide 500 format of two 250km races, one on Saturday and one on Sunday.
Testing will proceed to be restricted, with groups allowed solely two days – one pre-season on Wednesday, February 19 at Sydney Motorsport Park, the place the opening spherical can be held – and one on Monday, 11 August at Queensland Raceway.
Groups are presently gathered within the Bathurst paddock forward of this weekend’s Bathurst 1000, with the sector set to take to the Mount Panorama circuit for the opening Apply session on Thursday at 10:05am, AEDST [00:05 BST].
