Explained: How Supercars testing works in 2025
Teams have unveiled their brand-new liveries for the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, so that means it's time to go pre-season testing at the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day.
Ahead of this year's bumper 13-round, 34-race season, teams will roll out for a big day at Sydney Motorsport Park to get up to speed for the new campaign.
There is increased importance on the Sydney test heading into the 2025 season, given the new championship will also commence in Sydney. However, there has been a reduction of testing in 2025, and all teams must take part in the two major tests.
Ahead of this week’s on-track action, Supercars.com takes you through the what, where, when and why of testing in 2025.
The testing basics
Each Supercars team is permitted just two test days per year, down from three in 2024.
These two days comprise the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day at Sydney Motorsport Park in February, and the pre-endurance test day at Queensland Raceway in August. The two test days are non-transferable, with participation by all Supercars teams mandatory.
Endurance wildcard entries must also attend the Queensland Raceway test day in accordance with Rule D1.3.4. An approved endurance event wildcard who is a Teams Racing Charter (TRC) holder must utilise one test day at the Queensland Raceway test. A non-TRC holder who is an endurance event wildcard entrant is encouraged to attend this test day, but may elect to test at their home test track (except Tailem Bend).
Should a car not be able to participate due to damage, subject to the approval of the General Manager of Motorsport, one additional test day will be available for that car only.
The primary driver is not permitted to drive a car outside of their nominated team or group.
Additionally, Dunlop Super2 Series teams are allocated six test days per year, allowing the second-tier drivers to further develop their skills.
What is pre-season testing?
Pre-season testing allows teams to put laps on their cars on track. Over the years, pre-season test days have alternated from a single test day at a neutral venue for all teams and drivers, but in recent years, have taken place at local tracks for respective teams.
In 2025, there are two all-in tests, helping minimise costs for teams but also get them all at the same track at the same time, in the lead-up to and after a race event, so they're already on-site. It starts with the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day, followed by the pre-enduro test at Queensland Raceway.
Unlike Formula 1 testing, for example, Supercars teams can run both cars on track at a time.
Who can drive the car in testing?
One primary Driver and/or one additional driver nominated at an endurance event/s as an additional driver from the nominated team or group.
The primary driver is not permitted to drive a car outside of their nominated team or group.
When and where is testing in 2025?
There is one official pre-season test: the Destination NSW Sydney Test Day on Wednesday February 19. The test day is open to the public. Book your free tickets here.
The test will see 25 cars on track together for the first time; all 24 full-time Repco Supercars Championship entries, and Matt Stone Racing's wildcard. The Sydney test will begin at 8:30am local time and end at 5:00pm local time. For all you need to know about the Sydney test, click here.
There will also be an all-in pre-endurance event test at Queensland Raceway on Tuesday 12 August. All primary and co-drivers must take part.
Both tests will be attended by representatives of the Supercars Technical Team.
Why do teams take part in testing?
Teams need time to practise at-track processes before they go racing. Even footballers or cricketers need practice, but motorsport requires much more planning.
Some teams have built new cars and get a maximum of 60km at a shakedown. However, a full test day is crucial to test the cars and make sure they are reliable before the race weekend.
Test days are also important for engineers, who can collect data on their drivers and cars, to make sure it marries up with data captured from the previous season and in the workshop.
Does the stopwatch matter?
The Destination NSW Sydney Test Day is the first proper chance to see the cars on track in 2025. They're all on track together, so there's nowhere to hide. If you have a poor day or suffer reliability issues, you will be on the back foot.
Trophies aren't handed out at test days, but teams will be keeping an eye on the stopwatch as they test different set-ups. However, as is the case in all motorsport, times in testing need to be taken with a grain of salt.
But it could be a form guide of sorts in 2025, given we're going racing at the same circuit 48 hours later. If you're fast and log plenty of laps, you could set yourself up for a fast start at Round 1.
All told, teams don’t really show their full hand in pre-season testing. That makes it tricky to predict who will be on song come race day. However, if some teams show strengths or weaknesses, then we may have a picture of what to expect this season.
The new-look grid will roll out at the pre-season test day at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 19, and Thrifty Sydney 500 - Opening Round on February 21-23. Tickets for the test day and Sydney 500 - Opening Round are available now.
