End of Super3?
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 5 September 2024
The 2024 Dunlop Series could be the fifth and final season that features Super3 with Image Racing’s Terry Wyhoon revealing it is no more.
Whilst the road for Super2 is clear with the transition from Gen2 to Gen3 equipment not arriving until 2027 at the earliest, Super3 could be coming to a sudden stop.
Super3 became the official third tier of Supercars in 2019 where Broc Feeney was crowned champion and 23 cars took on the opening round at Phillip Island.
Post COVID, the field halved but still consistently floated around 10 or more cars.
However, this year the field has dropped from five cars at last year’s Adelaide finale, to just two at its lowest in 2024.
Whilst that figure will rise to four at Sandown, the category is struggling to attract drivers and teams despite plenty of Project Blueprint and Gen2 VFs, FGXs and Altimas floating around.
As a result, Image Racing boss Wyhoon revealed 2024 may be shaping up as the finish line for Super3.
“It appears that it has reached an end,” he told Auto Action.
“I am a bit surprised and mystified why we did not get interest in Jobe’s (Stewart) championship winning VF.
“It is disappointing there is not more Super3 this year because I think there are a lot of cars out there eligible for the category … but it is what it is.”
One of the potential reasons Wyhoon pointed towards was the fact to run a ZB in Super2 costs the same as running a VF in Super3, which is a point of frustration for the veteran team owner.
He fears that removing the third tier takes away an important stepping stone for drivers on their way to Supercars.
“It was always a big step so I thought Super3 would be good to fill that,” Wyhoon said.
“It is a great place to learn without any pressure, learning the same tracks and cars and like Jobe you can beat a lot of the Super2 drivers.
“(But) Super2 is strong and only going to get stronger.
“At the end of the day, if you want to race main game Supercars, you need to be in Super2, showing the field, winning races and then you might get phone calls.”
Image: Peter Norton/EPIC Sports Photography
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16762,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16762,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5615,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5615,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2029,
'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'slug' => 'email',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 2031,
'count' => 7319,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2029,
'category_count' => 7319,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'category_nicename' => 'email',
'category_parent' => 2031,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2031,
'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 6674,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2031,
'category_count' => 6674,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
