Seven bold predictions for 2023

Just two weeks remain until the Thrifty Newcastle 500 kicks off one of the most anticipated seasons ever.

The new Gen3 cars mark the dawning of a new era — and with it, there could be some surprises on and off the track.

All 25 seats are accounted for, and all new cars have now hit the track.

How will it all shake out? Supercars.com makes seven bold predictions for the year ahead.

A title decider

The last title decider was in 2018

In four seasons of dominance — Scott McLaughlin in 2019 and 2020, and Shane van Gisbergen in 2021 and 2022 — the championship has been sewn up before the season finale. Expect that to change in 2023 in what is looming to be a blockbuster first year of the Gen3 rules. Adelaide hosted Formula 1 title deciders before, and it’s gearing up for a Supercars showdown.

Grove top three

Reynolds bounced back in 2022

After a building year with the Kellys in 2021, the Groves made a major step forward in their first year on their own in 2022. In 2023, they’ve recruited a star rookie in Matt Payne, David Reynolds is firing on all cylinders, and key backgrounds recruitments have been made. David Cauchi impressed in his first season as Team Principal, and the effects of Bathurst- and title-winning engineer Grant McPherson are already starting to be felt. If it all comes together, and both drivers are fixtures at the front, the top three in the teams’ championship will be on.

Wins shared around

Will Brown won Erebus' last race in 2021

Back in 2013, seven teams tasted success when the Car of the Future shook up the order. Should Gen3 bridge the gap between the top teams and the midfield, you could make a case for nine teams to win races. Triple Eight, DJR, Tickford and WAU all won races in 2022. Erebus and BJR have all won since 2020. Grove Racing and Team 18 are showing big signs of growth, while PremiAir Racing has two turnkey Triple Eight Camaros and two very strong drivers in Tim Slade and James Golding. Then, there’s Matt Stone Racing and the Blanchard Racing Team, which despite running dated machinery, demonstrated serious potential in 2022.

Ford back on top

Can DJR lead Ford's charge?

With 11 competitive Mustangs on the grid, Ford is looking ominous heading into 2023 after two years of Holden domination. Commodores won 47 of the 64 races in 2021 and 2022, largely thanks to Shane van Gisbergen’s dominance. Chaz Mostert won nine races, and will be in a Ford this year. Cam Waters is looking better by the year, both Shell V-Power drivers will be hungry to improve, and then there’s Penrite Racing, which made huge gains in 2022 amid David Reynolds’ return to form. If all the pieces fall into place, Ford will be eyeing a first Champion Manufacturer title since 2020.

Rookies win races

Fraser won the 2022 Super2 title

Broc Feeney (2022) and Will Brown (2021) were impressive first-year winners, and we have another strong group of rookies arriving in 2023. Declan Fraser joins Tickford Racing fresh off a Super2 title with Triple Eight, no less. Matt Payne has earned promotion to the big leagues with Penrite Racing, and was a title contender as a rookie in Super2. Then, there’s Cameron Hill, who joins Matt Stone Racing having also contended for the title as a Super2 rookie. All three drivers are proven winners, and given the opportunity, would be tough to stop with a win in the offing.

Cam’s time comes

Three years, three podiums, but no wins

Cam Waters is on a run of three straight Bathurst 1000 podiums, and has two poles in the last three years. The Tickford star knows what it takes to be fast at Mount Panorama, but has been pipped at the post in the last three races. He finished second with Will Davison in 2020, and raced to second (2021) and third (2022) with James Moffat. We’re tipping 2023 will be Waters’ year to finally score an elusive Bathurst victory, which would be Tickford’s first since 2014 and third overall.

Teenager makes history

Allen is just a teenager, but is super quick

As far as rising stars come, Kai Allen is in a big hurry. The teenager, who will turn 18 in 2023, will make his Super2 debut with Eggleston Motorsport. Aboard a Triple Eight-built car, Allen will be a force in a competitive field. The Mount Gambier product dominated the 2022 Super3 season with a record 11 poles, and set category lap records in Bathurst, Sandown, Perth and Adelaide. Should the karting prodigy take out the 2023 Super2 title, he would become the youngest ever driver to do so. Broc Feeney and Scott McLaughlin won their respective titles aged 19.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle on March 10-12. Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.