Four crews will go head-to-head in the live finals of the 2026 PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge in downtown Bathurst.
The battle for the Golden Rattle Gun and $20,000 prize will held in the Bathurst CBD in the lead-up to the Repco Bathurst 1000. The live finals will be held on Wednesday October 7 at the Russell Street Live Site, during the Bathurst Street Party.
Brad Jones Racing is chasing a record-extending seventh title, Triple Eight its second title, and Matt Stone Racing and Blanchard Racing Team chasing their first wins.
BJR and MSR will go to battle in the first semi, followed by both BRT and Triple Eight in Semi Final 2.
The winners of each semi will win through to a grand final to determine the winner of the $20,000 cheque and have their name engraved on the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge Golden Rattle Gun, which will be presented at the end of the grand final.
PIRTEK PIT STOP CHALLENGE: 2026 RULES AND TIMES
When: Wednesday October 7
Where: Bathurst Street Party, Russell Street Live Site
Semi Final 1: 6:10pm (Brad Jones Racing vs Matt Stone Racing)
Semi Final 2: 6.25pm (Blanchard Racing Team vs Triple Eight Race Engineering)
Grand Final: 6:40pm (Winner Semi Final 1 vs Winner Semi Final 2)
*Times in AEDT, and are subject to change
THE RULES AND PROCESS
Cars are to be placed in position by the Teams at start line of the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge area in the mock Pit Lane prior to the commencement time of each Semi Final and Grand Final.
The Primary Driver is to be in their respective Car. The Primary Driver must not exit the Car until it has come to a complete stand still in the 'slow down zone'. Failure to comply will result in immediate disqualification.
All Team personnel participating must be regular Team Members in accordance with D24 Team lists at previous 2026 events.
Start: Television host to start challenge with drop of green flag. Teams will receive a signal 30 seconds prior to start their engines.
Entry to the Pit Bay: The Primary Driver is to Drive the Car into its Pit Bay for the pit stop.
Pit stop: Car raised by air jacks and four wheels changed. The stacking of a tyre/s on top of another is prohibited during the Pit Stop Challenge Semi Finals and Grand Final.
Signalling Lights: No lights to be used for the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge. Gun operator to acknowledge with a raised hand or similar process.
Exit from the Pit Bay: Once the Car has come down from air jacks (after four wheels changed), the Primary Driver is to drive across the PIRTEK finish line.
Winner: Determined as the first Car of each Semi Final/Grand Final to have the front edge of splitter across the PIRTEK finish line strip. Cameras will be used to adjudicate any ‘photo finishes’. In the case of a dead heat, the Semi Final/Grand Final will be re-run immediately.
At the completion of each Semi Final, the Teams pit stop equipment is to be managed/swapped by the competing teams to ensure swift setup within the window of television time/preparation.
TEAM TO SUPPLY EQUIPMENT
Go jacks
Rattle guns 2x
Fittings
Regulators
Air hoses
Gas bottles 3x
PIT STOP CREW NUMBERS
A maximum of six crew members can be utilised for the pit stop including:
One Car Controller
One air spike operator
Two on rattle guns (one Team member per gun)
Two assisting with the wheel change (Teams discretion)
Semi Final/Grand Final
Teams participating in the Challenge are permitted to bring and fit two (2) sets of dry Soft tyres already mounted to rims for use in the Challenge only.
NOTE: Dunlop WILL NOT fit tyres on Wednesday for the Challenge.
Cars will be permitted to switch from Track to Town Tyres to Dry tyres prior to the commencement of the Challenge.
At the conclusion of the Challenge Cars must fit their Track to Town Tyres for the return trip to the Circuit.
DROP GEAR RATIO PERMITTED
The 0.931 (29/27), which is the ‘primary’ ratio for the Mount Panorama Circuit.
PIT LANE LIMITER
The pit limiter must be on for the entirety of the competition, as it would be for a Pit Stop in a race.
LINE LOCKER
The line locker must be active with sufficient brake pressure when the Car is in the air, as it would be for a Pit Stop in a race.
VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
The Cars are to be presented for the Challenge finals in accordance with the Design as described in Division C of the 2026 Supercars Operations Manual. Wheels and wheel nuts are to be in accordance with the 2026 Supercars Operations Manual.
TEAM ATTIRE
Pit stop crew to be attired accordingly, including all safety wear as required.
Primary Driver to wear his/her race suit without helmet.
WASHOUT
In the event of rain, the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge finals will be either cancelled or postponed to another event. Please note this is at the discretion of Supercars.
