SUPERCARS CONFIRM 2021 RACE FORMATS

Supercars confirm 2021 race formats – Image: InSyde Media

Supercars have confirmed the race formats that will make up the 2021 championship.

By RHYS VANDERSYDE

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will be conducted across 32 races over the course of its 12-event calendar.

Once again the season will open with two 250km single driver races, albeit at Bathurst next year with the Mt Panorama 500 from 26-28 February. Before finishing with the same format on the streets of the Gold Coast in December.

Supercars Chief Operating Officer Shane Howard said the Gold Coast 500 will be the perfect way to end the year on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

“As we did prior to 2020, we will finish with two 250km single-driver races to decide the Championship,” Howard said.

“For fans around the world it will be thrilling to see a new Champion crowned in December, 30 years since racing first began on the Gold Coast street circuit.”

Seven events will use the three-race SuperSprint format introduced in 2020 without fuel stops, while the 400km round at the Formula 1 Australia Grand Prix will consist of four races over three days.

Refuelling will return at three 500km events as well as the Repco Bathurst 1000 the only endurance event to feature co-drivers on the calendar.

“We’re excited for the return of in-race refuelling as it provides an added dimension and challenge for teams as they must manage their fuel strategies throughout a race,” said Adam Arnold, General Manager – Marketing and Innovation at BP.

“The teamwork in BP Ultimate Pit Lane also comes to the fore as crews must work together quickly and safely as they change tyres and refuel.

“We’re looking forward to seeing every team on the Supercars grid again fuelled with BP fuel.”

The qualifying sessions at two of the Series’ shorter circuits, Tasmania and Perth, will be split into two groups, made up of alternate pit lane order – meaning one car per team.

There will be nine ARMOR ALL Top Ten Shootouts across the year, including two for both races of the season-opening Mt Panorama 500 and season closing Gold Coast 500.

In total, Supercars will conduct over 4300km of racing over the 12-event calendar.

Supercars will officially return to the track in 2021 with a test day over the weekend of 13-14 February at Sydney Motorsport Park.

2021 Repco Supercars Championship – Race Formats

EVENT RACE FORMATS

1 – Mt Panorama 500** 2 x 250km
2 – Melbourne 400 4 x 100km
3 – Tasmania SuperSprint 3 x 110km
4 – OTR SuperSprint 3 x 115km
5 – Winton SuperSprint 3 x 120km
6 – Darwin Triple Crown* 3 x 110km
7 – NTI Townsville 500** 2 x 250km
8 – Sydney SuperNight* 3 x 125km
9 – Perth SuperNight 3 x 110km
10 – Repco Bathurst 1000*^ 1 x 1000km
11 – ITM Auckland SuperSprint 3 x 115km
12 – Gold Coast 500** 2 x 250km

Race formats subject to change
*Denotes event will include a Top Ten Shootout
** Denotes event will include two Top Ten Shootouts
^Denotes Endurance event featuring co-drivers

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