Key rule confirmed for 2023 enduros
Supercars
07 Sep
Supercars confirms no CPS requirement for 2023 enduros
Sandown used to have three CPS minimum, and Bathurst seven
Car may be attended by maximum of nine pit crew members during enduro stop
A key rule has been confirmed for the first endurance races of the Gen3 era, with Supercars confirming there will be no compulsory pit stop (CPS) requirement at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000.
The Supercars Commission recently approved there will be no minimum CPS for either the 500km race at Sandown or the 1000km race at Mount Panorama.
The change was confirmed on Thursday in the Sandown Further Supplementary Regulations, a week out from the first enduro of the season.
Supercars introduced a minimum CPS count in 2013, which was the first year of the Car of the Future (COTF) era.
The CPS was introduced to compensate for disparities in fuel consumption between Ford and Chevrolet (Holden) pushrod engines and the quad cam Mercedes and Nissan engines.
The most recent Sandown 500, held in 2019, featured a minimum CPS requirement of three stops. Bathurst, meanwhile, has a minimum requirement of seven stops since 2013.
The introduction of the Gen3 cars has come with engines of different architecture — Fords are powered by a 5.4-litre quad cam engine, whereas the Camaro are powered by a 5.7-litre pushrod.
Where COTF vehicles carried 111-litre cells with E85 fuel, the Gen3 cars carry 133 litres and are powered by E75 fuel.
A compulsory brake pad change has been stipulated for the Bathurst 1000, from lap 55 to 120, per the event Supplementary Regulations.
Sandown and Bathurst will still have minimum driver distance of 54 laps. Given the larger fuel cell, lighter cars and less downforce, teams will have more avenues with strategy.
A car may be attended by a maximum of nine pit crew members during an enduro stop, including a car controller, air jack operator, refueller, fire attendant and five other servicing pit crew members.
The five other servicing pit crew members is an increase from non-enduro refuelling events, which only allow four servicing members.
There has been a small change to the driver assistant personnel rules, however, with restrictions removed on what the assistant can do during a pit stop.
Practice at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 will commence on Friday September 15
