Five reasons to be pumped for 2022
It feels like it was only yesterday that the 2021 season ended at Mount Panorama.
In under seven weeks, the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will roar into life on the streets of Newcastle.
Several different reasons bode to make the 2022 season one of the most thrilling yet, with Supercars.com has narrowing it down to five.
1) Return to traditional venues
In 2022, Supercars is set to return to Newcastle, Albert Park, Perth, Winton, New Zealand and the Gold Coast.
It will make for a vastly different campaign; four of the first five rounds of the 2022 season didn't feature in 2020 or 2021.
It ensures there won't be much of a form guide for 2022, with several driver and team changes since the championship last visited the aforementioned circuits.
2) More rookies
Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki put on a show as rookies in 2021, each showing what the next generation is made of.
That will continue in an even bigger way in 2022, with the last two Super2 champions joining the main game.
Thomas Randle has been handed a full-time drive by Tickford Racing, and will finally act on his big reputation.
Then, there's the wunderkind Broc Feeney, who has been tasked in replacing Jamie Whincup at Red Bull Ampol Racing.
3) New line-ups
Only four teams will head into 2022 with the same line-up as 2021.
Even the teams' champions will have change, with Feeney joining Shane van Gisbergen at Red Bull Ampol Racing.
Bathurst winner Lee Holdsworth returns with Grove Racing, with Andre Heimgartner and Bryce Fullwood moving to Brad Jones Racing.
Nick Percat was the big winner of the silly season, securing a plumb drive at Walkinshaw Andretti United.
Randle and Jake Kostecki are off to Tickford, with Matt Stone Racing also entering 2022 with an all-new line-up.
Who will make the biggest exclamation point in Newcastle?
4) Van Gisbergen defending from the hunters
Supercars.com has boldly predicted there will be a new champion in 2022, but it will be fascinating to see what van Gisbergen can achieve in his title defence.
Van Gisbergen was a cut above in 2021, winning 14 races and clinching the title with a round to spare.
However, his rivals are expected to make big gains in 2022, and he won't have Jamie Whincup pushing him on the track.
It boils down to who can beat van Gisbergen - and the big names are already lining up.
5) Floodlit season finale
For the first time, a Supercars season is set to end under lights.
The Beaurepaires Sydney Super 600 is set to end the 2022 season in late November.
Sydney Motorsport Park previously hosted season finales in 2003 and 2004, but nothing like this.
The 13-event 2022 Repco Supercars Championship will commence in Newcastle in March. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
The 13-round draft calendar was released during the Repco Bathurst 1000 weekend.
