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Minimum drive time, fuel churns among 2025 rule changes

Supercars
24 Jan
New rule book released amid some of the most sweeping rule and format changes in the championship’s history
  • Supercars announces rule book updates for 2025 season

  • Among changes include Finals, new formats, weighted points

  • 2025 Supercars season to commence in Sydney on February 21-23

Supercars officials have released updates to the Operations Manual, which comes amid some of the most sweeping rule and format changes in the championship’s history.

Among the most significant changes, which were announced last year, include the introduction of Elimination Finals, new formats, a more weighted point system, and test day allocation changes.

A number of additional changes have been made in line with the new-look season, which will commence at Sydney Motorsport Park, the first of eight rounds in the new Sprint Cup. All rules for the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship can be viewed here.

After Round 8 at Queensland Raceway, the season will switch to enduro mode at The Bend and Bathurst, before the Finals sees 10 drivers chase the championship across seven races at Surfers Paradise, Sandown and Adelaide.

A notable change fans can expect are the new fuel churns, which will be used at Sprint Cup rounds. The traditional refuelling towers will return for the final five long distance events.

Minimum driving time and average weight have also been amended for the enduros, while minimum tyre pressure has been lowered.

As confirmed in recent weeks, the Full Course Yellow procedure has been removed from the rules, while overlapping is now permitted on Safety Car restarts, as was previously the case in 2023.

Tickets for the season-opening round in Sydney, on February 21-23, are on sale now.

Among new and amended updates in the rule book include:

  • New Repco Supercars Championship and Dunlop Super2 Series calendars

  • New Repco Supercars Championship race weekend formats, such as the new-for-2025 Super 440 format, and new qualifying formats

  • New Repco Supercars Championship points system, which is weighted to the length of races

  • The teams’ championship is awarded in accordance; points aren’t deleted during Finals and bonus points don’t apply to a team's end total

  • Minimum tyre pressure has been lowered from 17psi to 16psi

  • All mounted control tyres must be stored and managed in accordance with the rules, i.e. stored in a shade structure or the team garage

  • The maximum number of test days has been reduced to two, and will take place at Sydney Motorsport Park (February 19) and Queensland Raceway (August 11)

  • The introduction of the refuelling churn, which is only permitted for use at Sprint Cup events. There's also regulation around how much fuel teams need to drop in the two pit stops, allowing teams to choose start volume and how much they put in at each stop to finish the race

  • The refuelling tower is only permitted at endurance and elimination Finals events

  • The minimum driving time at the enduros has been increased from one-third to 37%, meaning drivers must complete a minimum of 60 laps at Bathurst, and 38 at Tailem Bend

  • Fuel tank capacity reduced from 133L to 118L at Tailem Bend and Bathurst to reduce stint lengths and open up strategy choices for teams

  • Overlapping on Safety Car restarts is permitted, as last was the case in 2023

  • Minimum weight for the enduros is now averaged across co-drivers, rather than just the primary driver

  • If teams have more than one car running the same livery, there must be some differentiation

  • The highest placed rookie driver will receive the Rookie Driver of the Year Award

  • One primary Supercars driver can undertake 10 laps at a teammate's rookie test days

  • The maximum number of rookie test days has been reduced from three to two for first-year rookies, and one day for second-year. However, the tyre allocation has been increased for practice tyres, which teams felt was of greater benefit to rookie drivers

  • Both rear-vision mirrors must be used at all rounds; previously, teams could use one at street circuit events

  • A 105% qualifying cut-off rule, which was formally 107%

  • Increase Dunlop Super2 Series tyre allocation quantity from eight to 12 (one more set)

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