Historic changes to Supercars Championship

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 9 October 2024

The 2025 Supercars season will witness some of the biggest changes in history with the champion to be crowned by a new Finals Series.

Ever since 1960 the champion has been the highest point scorer across a season or single race, but next year it will all come down to a three-event finals series at Gold Coast, Sandown and Adelaide.

Only 10 of the 24 drivers will feature in the Finals where places are secured by being the highest point scorers from the first 10 rounds or winning the new Sprint Cup and reintroduced Enduro Cup.

The finals start on the Gold Coast before only seven drivers stay in contention in Sandown and the final four fight for the title on the streets of Adelaide.

This is the major headline from a huge 2025 announcement from Supercars at Bathurst where new formats were also announced for the 13-round season that will include the return of the Enduro Cup after six years away.

Supercars follows in the footsteps of NASCAR that has been using a Playoffs system once known as the Chase for the last 20 years, but the Australian championship has created its own system.

Unlike NASCAR which uses a win-you-are-in system, the traditional key items of winning and being consistent collecting points will still be crucial.

Tickets to the Finals will be secured across the new Sprint Cup and returning Enduro Cup.

Phase 1: Rounds 1-8 Sprint Cup

The Sprint Cup is made up of the first eight rounds of the year from Sydney to Ipswich.

There will be three formats utilised across those rounds with a new three-race 500km format being in place at the Sydney opener and Townsville where racing will be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Melbourne retains the usual four-race rapid fire sprints, while the other rounds at Taupo, Symmons Plains, Wanneroo, Hidden Valley and Queensland Raceway will feature a new three-race 440 format.

The highest point scorer across those eight rounds will be the inaugural Sprint Cup champion and gain automatic entry into the Finals.

Phase 2: Rounds 9-10 Enduro Cup

For the first time since 2019, the Enduro Cup will be on the line, but just over two events rather than three.

The Bend will host the traditional September enduro, which will mark the start of the Enduro Cup and run to the finals.

Then the Great Race at Bathurst awaits, completing the two-round Enduro Cup and Finals qualification period.

With not only the coveted Peter Brock Trophy and lifetime legacy on the line, but also the last chance to secure a Finals berth, the pressure will only intensify at Mount Panorama.

The eight highest point scorers from the first 27 races, plus the Sprint and Enduro Cup winners will qualify.

Phase 3: Rounds 11-13 The Finals

Post Bathurst, the chase for Supercars title will be in full swing with the Finals kicking off on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

When the action begins on the Gold Coast, the 10 finalists will have their points reset to 3000, but there will be additional bonus points on awarded based on performance in the regular system.

Victory in one of the two Gold Coast 500 races will secure a ticket to the Round of 7 at Sandown.

The bottom three drivers will be knocked out with only seven advancing.

When they arrive at Sandown, the seven remaining drivers will have their points reset to 4000.

Victory in one of the two 250km races at the historic Melbourne circuit will book a ticket to the Adelaide Grand Final, while the bottom three drivers will be eliminated, leaving four to fight for the title.

A final fairway showdown will take place at Adelaide, which will now be an expanded three-race weekend, incorporating a Friday race.

The equation will be simple with the highest points scorer across the Adelaide weekend becoming the Supercars champion.

AUTO ACTION has been advocating for a finals-like system for the last 18 months and ran a special feature examining who would be the champions in an alternative universe and also looked at how to improve the formats.

But in 2025 it will be a reality, starting a new era in Supercars racing.

Main image: Mark Horsburgh

2025 Supercars Championship calendar

Round 1 – February 21-23: Sydney Motorsport Park (Sprint Cup)

Round 2 – March 13-16: Albert Park (Sprint Cup)

Round 3 – April 11-13: Taupo (Sprint Cup)

Round 4 – May 9-11: Symmons Plains (Sprint Cup)

Round 5 – June 6-8: Wanneroo (Sprint Cup)

Round 6 – June 20-22: Hidden Valley Raceway (Sprint Cup)

Round 7 – July 11-13: Townsville (Sprint Cup)

Round 8 – August 8-10: Queensland Raceway (Sprint Cup)

Round 9 – September 12-14: The Bend Motorsport Park (Enduro Cup)

Round 10 – October 9-12: Bathurst 1000 (Enduro Cup)

Round 11 – October 24-26: Gold Coast (Finals Round of 10)

Round 12 – November 14-16: Sandown (Finals Round of 7)

Round 13 – November 27-30: Adelaide (Grand Final – Final 4)

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.

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