F1-style strategic 'curve ball' for Supercars teams explained
New parc fermé regulations to debut at ITM Taupō Super 440
Teams cannot make changes to car between qualifying and first Saturday tace
New concept opens up strategy variability, adds curve ball to action
Supercars teams must play a delicate balancing act with car set-up at Super 440 rounds, thanks to new parc fermé regulations.
The new parc fermé initiative will be in place for all Super 440 rounds from next weekend's ITM Taupō Super 400, which opens the ITM NZ Double Header.
The term 'parc fermé' is a French phrase that translates literally as 'closed park'. In simpler terms, it means team staff cannot work on their cars whilst under parc fermé conditions.
From 2026, cars will be under parc fermé conditions from the end of the second Boost Mobile Qualifying session on the Saturday of Super 440 events, to the start of the first sprint race.
Per Rule D13.1.2.1, "Once the final Format 2 Session of the day is completed, the ‘Pre-Race’ Parc Fermé will commence immediately from when Cars are released in accordance with Rule D13.1.1.1."
In addition, per Rule D13.1.2.2, "The ‘Pre-Race’ Parc Fermé will be in effect until the commencement of the formation lap of the first scheduled race on the same day."
Prohibiting set-up changes between Boost Mobile Qualifying and the race forces teams to strike a compromise been qualifying and race settings. Not only does the new rule reduce the workload for teams, but it also offers great potential to add unpredictability to races.
Among other changes for Taupō include back-to-back 25-minute practice sessions on the Friday, while the Sunday race will run over the new race distance of 60 laps.
Supercars Chief Motorsport Officer Tim Edwards says the new parc fermé concept adds another "strategic variable" to sprint racing in 2026, with Soft and Super Soft tyres to be used on Saturdays once again.
“Using both tyre compounds brings back the challenge that we haven't seen so far this year, where teams have to very quickly adapt between the two tyres,” Edwards told Supercars.com.
“Add to that, the added curve ball this year that the cars are actually in parc fermé between the end of qualifying and the first race on Saturday.
“It's a totally different dynamic, because typically in that window, that's where teams are running around changing their car, from a qualifying car to a race car.
“With this change, they don't have the opportunity this year. It's similar to what they do in Formula 1, where after qualifying, the cars are in parc fermé.
“In short, what you qualify, is what you race. Teams need to make a decision, and it adds another strategic variable."
Track action in Taupō commences on Friday April 10.
