Supercars Superlicence requirements set to be dumped

An AUTO ACTION Exclusive: Supercars Superlicence restriction to be dumped

The contentious requirements imposed by Supercars on drivers looking to race in the nation’s premier category may be over.

For the past two years, Supercars has managed to maintain a requirement that, regardless of any other licence qualifying process, drivers must contest six Super2 events before being permitted to race in Supercars.

While that requirement was recently halved for drivers coming from Carrera Cup and Super3, it has remained a major barrier for drivers in many relevant national categories, including TCR, S5000 and Trans Am – all ARG categories.

However, reports are suggesting that the FIA has now intervened following representations by TCR  chief Marcello Lotti and Motorsport Australia.

The TCR World Series, which recently hosted two events in Australia, is an FIA-recognised series, as is Supercars, and it is understood that Lotti’s case centred around the inequitable ‘disadvantage’ being imposed by one FIA category on another FIA category due to Supercars’ discriminatory qualifying requirements.

AA understands that the FIA has requested Supercars to review its restrictive requirement, with a view to discontinuing it, and that Supercars is currently discussing it. Certainly, such a request from the FIA has to be taken seriously.

Should Supercars comply, there is presumably an option for MA to reintroduce the Superlicence qualifying points system that had previously applied across all motorsport categories in Australia – but was due to be discontinued in 2024.

MA had announced the discontinuation of the ‘Superlicence endorsement’ points system back in July, as a response to the controversy, but that proved ineffective, as Supercars maintained its right to impose its own entry requirements (as opposed to licensing requirements), which it endorsed in December.

Or, MA could simply stick with the simpler ‘International C’ licence requirement for Supercars that it announced would be introduced on January 1.

Either way, removal of the compulsory Super2 requirement will come as very good news to the young race drivers around the country who enter the sport with an aspiration to race a Supercar who were faced with an impossible, budget-wise, pathway to Supercars.

It is also good news for all the national categories – TCR, Trans Am and particularly S5000 – which have struggled to maintain entry levels without being able to offer qualifying points towards a Superlicence.

ARG’s Barry Rogers is pleased that the long campaign to have the imposition of compulsory competition in Super2 resolved appears to be making progress.

“I knew that Marcello was pretty disappointed about the situation, and I was aware that he was making approaches to the FIA,” Rogers told AUTO ACTION.

“So, if it’s confirmed that this situation is resolved, then it’s great news for not just the ARG categories but for many other categories around the country.

“Compared with sports like cricket or football, motorsport has more cost barriers for entry – at all levels – and it’s up to the sport to keep those as low as possible.

“Individual Supercar teams may well still prefer a potential driver to race Super2 as part of their development.

“Just as equally, they may decide that a particular, talented driver doesn’t need to do that – Joey Mawson, with Peter Ziberras’ team was an obvious case last year; and there have been teams looking at Aaron Cameron – who is well qualified … Same for Jordan Cox – was never going to have the budget to do Super 2.

“It’s a decision that should be made by individual teams. Will be good news when it’s confirmed.”

AA has tried to contact Motorsport Australia’s Director of Motorsport, Michael Smith, for comment or confirmation, but has been unable to do so to date.

However, an MA spokesman, encouragingly, confirmed to AA today that “Motorsport Australia remains in close dialogue with the FIA and Supercars regarding licencing structures and expect to be able to provide an update shortly.”

‘Mr S5000’, Chris Lambden, who just last month, in AA, reinforced the criticism of Supercars’ entry policy, is also pleased at the prospect.

“If that’s correct, it will be a great result,” he told AA.

“Yes, I – and others – have been critical of what has been an unacceptable anti-competitive situation and MA’s problems in addressing it so far, but I’ll be the first to congratulate them for working with Marcello Lotti and the FIA to resolve it.

“That will be a very positive result, with upsides across motorsport in general in Australia.

“It has been a significant ‘negative’ for S5000, and all those other affected categories and drivers, so I hope that it’s confirmed and that 2024 plans for S5000 going forward can now come together.”

The Licence Points allocation for Superlicences that was to be abolished this year, allocated points as below, might well now be retained. 13 points were required for a driver to qualify for a Superlicence.

Note: Championships/Series are Australian unless specifically indicated
* Eligible for FIA Superlicence and Motorsport Australia Superlicence points. All other categories are eligible for Motorsport Australia Superlicence points.

Main image: Mark Horsburgh

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