The potential winners and losers of new format in Taupō

This year's trip to New Zealand will answer plenty of questions over whether some drivers and teams have fixed a key problem that hurt their 2024 campaigns.

The ITM Taupō Super 440 will be the first round with the new format that sees two different tyre compounds used across two qualifying sessions and two races on a single day.

The new construction Dunlop Soft tyre compound, used at the first two rounds in Sydney and Melbourne, will be joined by last year's Super Soft compound this weekend.

The format for Saturday is very challenging with two back-to-back qualifying sessions, one for each tyre compound. Drivers will qualify on the Soft tyre, before bolting on the Super Soft for the next season.

The tyre compound drivers qualify on is what they'll use for the corresponding race. Crucially, the gap between the qualifying sessions is only 10 minutes, which is not enough time to make any notable set-up changes.

There's every possibility that a driver could blaze to pole for the first race, and fail to qualify in the top 10 for the second. Car speed counts for a lot, but a different tyre is a whole different kettle of fish.

"While both tyres might look the same, they require different car set-ups and driving styles to maximise their performance. Being fast on one tyre doesn’t mean you’ll be fast on the other," Supercars data analyst Scott Sinclair writes in his exclusive upcoming column.

"Adding to the complexity, teams only have two sets of Super Soft tyres for the entire weekend. This limited allocation means they can't use the Super Softs during practice without compromising their qualifying runs.

"If any teams are brave enough to sacrifice a set in practice to learn how their car reacts, it will give them some great information, but will hurt them come qualifying."

So, who could thrive, and who could stumble?

Broc Feeney has qualified no worse than second this season, starting on the front row for all Sydney races before claiming a four-from-four sweep in Melbourne.

The Triple Eight driver could be the one to beat, given he had the best qualifying average across the Soft and Super Soft tyres last season. Feeney's Soft qualifying average was 5.4, compared to his 3.2 Super Soft average.

Star Ford trio Cam Waters, Chaz Mostert and Matt Payne went completely the other way. Mostert and Payne had woeful Super Soft qualifying averages of 12.8 and 15.0. Of drivers who finished in the top 10 last year, only Will Davison (15.6) had a worse Super Soft average than Payne.

If Mostert can't get the Super Soft firing, he could be in even more trouble, given he is already having a tough time in qualifying on the Soft tyre this season.

A big winner could be James Golding and PremiAir Racing. Golding had a poor 14.5 Soft qualifying average, but had a Super Soft average of 8.6. Only Feeney, Waters and Will Brown were better.

"The Super Soft tyre was a thorn in the side of both Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United last year, as both teams struggled to get the tyre working in qualifying. They qualified on average five positions worse than they did on the Soft tyre," Sinclair writes.

Supercars will hit the track for two practice sessions in Taupō on Friday. Tickets on sale.

2024 Soft vs Super Soft qualifying performance

Last year's top 10 in the championship

*Saturday Taupō qualifying was on wet tyre