Revised PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge rules explained

Revised PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge rules will come into effect from this upcoming ITM Taupō Super 440.

Introduced in 2017 to recognise the efforts of the category's hard working pit crews, the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge awards $20,000 and the coveted 'Golden Rattle Gun Trophy' to the winner at season’s end.

The competition takes place throughout the year, awarding points to teams based on the pit stop times in each nominated race during the season.

A change has been made for the regular season, in line with the live finals.

Previously, teams that opt to change four tyres during a pit stop for strategy reasons will be slower than a team that elects to change two tyres, and would therefore not be a genuine contender for PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge points in that race.

From Taupō, only four-tyre pit stops will be eligible for the challenge, with two-tyre stops excluded from the challenge.

The revised rules state: “Pit Stop time used in calculating points is the duration between crossing the Pit entry line and Pit exit line, as recorded by Timing for any Car that changes all 4 tyres. This Pit Stop time is final. Any Pit Stop where less than 4 tyres are changed is not eligible for the Pit Stop Challenge.”

The 2026 PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge points will be recalculated from Round 1 in line with the updated rule and to ensure consistency across the Challenge.

Last year, Brad Jones Racing reclaimed its PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge mantle with a dominant live final win over Matt Stone Racing in Bathurst.

The 2026 PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge resumes at this weekend’s ITM Taupō Super 440.