The rule changes you need to know for Round 1 in Sydney
2025 Supercars season to commence in Sydney on February 21-23
Round 1 is the first of new era, where Sydney opens Sprint Cup segment
New point system, fuel churns, overlapping on restarts among changes
Supercars' new Operations Manual rule book, released last week, confirmed some of the most significant sporting changes the championship has ever seen.
A number of changes will be put into play for the first time at the Sydney 500 - Opening Round on February 21-23, where drivers will race on all three days of the event.
The Sydney round will be the first of eight in the new-for-2025 Sprint Cup, which will be followed by the Enduro Cup. Both segments of the season will have a major bearing on which drivers qualify for the Finals.
Given the changes, the three Sydney races are set to be jam-packed with storylines and drama, with dual 200km races to follow a Friday night sprint race. All rules for the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship can be viewed here.
There will be 25 Supercar entries for Round 1, with Matt Stone Racing entering a wildcard for second-generation racer Cameron Crick.
Triple Eight Race Engineering will lead the field out of pit lane, courtesy of its 2024 teams' championship victory. Tickford Racing, Walkinshaw Andretti United, Grove Racing and Dick Johnson Racing will fill garages 3 through 10.
Sydney will also see the debut of Dunlop's new-for-2025 specification SP Sport Maxx control Soft compound tyres, which will be used for all three races.
So, what else has changed that could have an impact on the racing action? Supercars.com highlights five key changes for season-opening round. Tickets are on sale now.
High-pressure format
Last July, drivers completed a day of practice, followed by a Boost Mobile Qualifying session, Top Ten Shootout, and 200km race on each day. In 2025, it's a vastly different look.
Friday's action will commence with a single 30-minute practice session, followed by a new two-part knockout qualifying format. Here, the top 10 drivers from the 10-minute Part 1 go through to an eight-minute all-in session in Part 2 to decide pole. The session will set the grid for the 100km, 26-lap Race 1, meaning we'll have practice, qualifying and a race on the very first day of the season!
On Saturday and Sunday, the races are twice as long, and require two compulsory pit stops to get home. On both days, drivers will tackle a new-look three-part knockout qualifying, which will see six cars knocked out in Part 1, eight cars in Part 2, and then a Top Ten Shootout making up Part 3. After qualifying, drivers will then battle for victory in 51-lap, 200km races.
Weighted point system
The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship points system has also been updated, with points weighted to the length of each race. In Sydney, the 100km sprint will offer 60 points for the winner, while Races 2 and 3 will offer 120 points.
For reference, last year's Sydney round was two races of equal length, with 150 points on offer for the winner. Additionally, five fastest lap bonus points will also be on offer for the driver who clocks the fastest time, provided they finish in the top 15.
Minimum tyre pressure lowered
Per Rule D17.1.18, the minimum permitted pressure of a control tyre when fitted to a car is 16psi, which must be achieved at any time that the car is on the circuit during any session.
Last year, the minimum was 17psi, which teams will not only have to account for, but also manage with the new-for-2025 Soft compound.
As we all know, Sydney is tough on tyres, while the first two races will feature racing under lights. Even then, both races are different, a 100km sprint versus a 200km strategy race. It goes without saying, but the drivers and teams that manage tyres best will be rewarded by the chequered flag.
Refuelling churns
A big visual (and strategic) change you will see are refuelling churns, which will debut in Sydney.
Refuelling churns, which are only permitted for use at Sprint Cup events, replace refuelling towers, which return for the enduros and Finals rounds.
There's also a new regulation around how much fuel teams need to drop in the two pit stops. This allows teams to choose start volume and how much they put in at each stop to finish the race. So, expect plenty of bold strategy calls.
Overlapping on Safety Car restarts
As confirmed in recent weeks, the Full Course Yellow procedure has been removed from the rules. However, overlapping is now permitted on Safety Car restarts, as was previously the case in 2023.
Per Rule D10.2.14.2, it is permitted for a car to overlap with another car, but only after the apex of the final turn or such other turn as has been nominated by the Race Director.
Watch for drivers to try and be aggressive on Safety Car restarts, should we get some Safety Car periods in Sydney. Sydney boasts a 732m pit straight, so there's every opportunity to make a big gain if you catch your rivals napping.
