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Wildcard loophole explained

By Auto Action

Pitlane conflict over the new Teams Racing Charter exposed in a brouhaha at The Bend.

By Andrew Clarke

Zak Best’s pole position on Saturday at The Bend opened many cans of worms, but the most intriguing was the discussion around whether or not he should have been there at all.
According to the Teams Racing Charter (TRC), which replaced the Racing Entitlements Contacts under Supercars’ new ownership at the end of last season, the rules around wildcard entries were tightened to allow only one non-endurance race weekend per team or entity.
But a second clause inside the secret agreement allows Super2 entrants to run a wildcard at any of the rounds open to wildcard entries – i.e. those with adequate pitlane facilities. It is believed this was how Super2 team Image Racing and Tickford Racing accessed a second wildcard weekend for Jordan Boys and Zak Best.
The difference of opinion was exposed on Saturday afternoon at The Bend when the discussion around tyres exploded after Best beat Shane van Gisbergen to the pole. The extra wildcards are believed to have caught Dunlop off guard and were not included in the manufacturing numbers for the batch of tyres currently being run.
Last year Tickford ran Thomas Randle at three rounds in preparation for his full-season debut in 2022.
Regardless of any clauses in the TRC, Supercars needs to approve any and all wildcard entries and did so for both Boys and Best. Andrew Clarke
* – Auto Action has not seen a copy of the TRC.