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Extra event for PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge

13 Mar 2019
2019 competition kicks off this weekend at Albert Park
3 mins by James Pavey
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The PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge will expand in 2019, with an extra qualifying round introduced for the competition’s third year.

Eight Supercars events will host qualifying rounds for the competition, with the Saturday race at Phillip Island added, coinciding with the WD-40-backed event’s move to the SuperSprint format.

The PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge utilises times recorded by each car from pit entry to pit exit during selected races where it is compulsory for all drivers to change a minimum of two tyres.

Twenty-four points are awarded to the fastest crew in each specified race, all the way down to one for the slowest.

The top four in the standings at the end of The Bend SuperSprint then go into the knockout final, held on the Friday night at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and broadcast on Fox Sports.

In addition to the $20,000 cheque for the overall winner, the top three after the regular rounds receive $5,500, $3,500 and $2,000 respectively.

Shell V-Power Racing won the competition in 2017 and ’18, with owner Roger Penske generously offering to split the check with runner-up Brad Jones Racing last year following a tight finish.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer says the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge is a great initiative that fans have thrown their support behind.

"We’re excited to see another SuperSprint event added to the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge for 2019," Seamer said.

"We’ve altered our rules this year regarding pitstop practice during events, which means crews will have to get everything right during the races to prove they are the best in the business.

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"The final at Mount Panorama has been popular among fans at the track and across our Fox Sports Broadcast, so we’re very pleased that PIRTEK has continued to back this initiative."

PIRTEK CEO Stephen Dutton added: "The PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge is another exciting element in our relationship with the Supercars stable.

"The teams get the chance to showcase their skills in what has now become one of the most critical parts of the race.

"Winning a round relies so much on these guys getting it right and these guys rely so much on the product they use to work when it counts.

"They use a lot of our PIRTEK hose assemblies and equipment in this crucial moment, so we are proud to showcase our gear and at the same time recognise the skill of these technicians.

"We are looking forward to a great competition and may the fastest crew win."

To keep fans up to date with who is the fastest team in pit lane this year, the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge Leaderboard will be published on Supercars.com.

This year’s events where times will be recorded will be:

- Race 3: Beaurepaires Melbourne 400- Race 5: Beaurepaires Melbourne 400- Race 7: Tyrepower Tasmania SuperSprint- Race 9: WD-40 Phillip Island SuperSprint- Race 11: PIRTEK Perth SuperSprint- Race 13: Winton SuperSprint- Race 15: BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown- Race 19: Century Batteries Ipswich SuperSprint- Race 21: The Bend SuperSprint

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