Race format rebrand for 2020
Supercars’ sprint rounds will get a new name to go with their extended race format in 2020.
The category has opted to rebrand its SuperSprint events to Super400, in line with an increase to 400km of racing kilometres per weekend.
Currently, SuperSprints feature a 120km race on Saturday, followed by 200km on Sunday.
From next year, there will be 200km of racing on both days, in a move to boost the Saturday action.
In 2020, Super400 events are scheduled for Symmons Plains, Winton, Hidden Valley and Sandown.
The term ‘International Super400’ will meanwhile be applied to Albert Park, set to have 4x100km races, and Pukekohe, which runs to the 2x200km format.
The balance of the season is split into SuperStreet (Adelaide, Townsville, and Newcastle), SuperNight (Perth, Sydney and Gold Coast) and PIRTEK Enduro Cup (Tailem Bend, Bathurst and Gold Coast).
Changes to the formats mean there will be more racing kilometres next season than in 2019, despite a reduction in the number of events.
“Super400 reflects the change we’ve made to the sprint format for 2020, to offer a better Saturday experience to our fans,” said Supercars CEO Sean Seamer.
“We’ve put a real focus on delivering a better product on Saturdays and believe going to 200km is a win for fans both at the track and watching on television.”
The SuperSprint tag was first used in 2014 as part of a push to group the various events and formats into three distinct categories; SuperSprint, SuperStreet and PIRTEK Enduro Cup.
SuperNight was introduced for the history-making Sydney night race in 2018 and then rolled out in Perth this year.
Confirmation of the new Super400 name follows news that Dunlop’s tyre compounds will be renamed for 2020, reverting to the simpler Hard and Soft tags, following three seasons as Soft and SuperSoft.
