Tight mid-pack teams' title battle forms

As Erebus Motorsport and Triple Eight battle it out for the 2023 teams’ championship, teams are locked in a mid-pack logjam.

After seven rounds in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship, the gap between the top two teams is just 80 points.

Erebus and Triple Eight have been the runaway teams this season, winning 15 of 19 races and owning the top four drivers’ points positions.

Behind them, however, is another tight battle for minor placings, which could have a major bearing on the 2024 pit order.

Tickford Racing’s Cam Waters/James Courtney combination is fourth, but is just 49 points ahead of Team 18.

Team 18 in fifth, however, is just 21 points ahead of Walkinshaw Andretti United, which is 16 points ahead of the Shell V-Power Racing Team.

All told, position four through seven are covered by just 86 points.

On current standings, Erebus, Triple Eight and Brad Jones Racing (Andre Heimgartner/Bryce Fullwood) would occupy the top three garages in 2024.

The ordering of this year’s teams’ championship could be moot, however, should Supercars pursue a ‘live pit lane’ concept.

The live pit lane concept was put forward at a Supercars Commission meeting earlier this year, with "unanimous" support for the concept to be investigated.

If approved, the live pit lane would be based on the teams’ championship standings after each round.

If a live pit lane was in place, current leaders Erebus would be at the head of pit lane for the next round at The Bend Motorsport Park.

However, if Triple Eight left the OTR SuperSprint as leaders, they would head pit lane for the following round, the Penrite Oil Sandown 500.

The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the OTR SuperSprint on August 18-20.