What's new in 2025: Introducing the Sprint Cup

In the lead-up to the new season, Supercars.com is highlighting some key on- and off-track changes coming in 2025, continuing with a new championship within a championship.

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will see one of the biggest shakeups the category has ever introduced.

Supercars has refined its racing formats in 2025 and, for the first time, introduces a Finals Series to determine the Repco Supercars Champion.

However, the journey to overall title glory begins in Sydney at Round 1, which is the first of eight sprint rounds in what is effectively a championship within a championship.

What is the Sprint Cup?

The Sprint Cup, a new trophy, will be awarded to the top-performing driver over the first eight rounds, with that driver gaining automatic entry into the Finals.

A driver will be formally recognised with the Sprint Cup, but it isn't the overall championship trophy. Rather, it is effectively similar to the minor premiership in NRL or AFL, with the winner acknowledged for their efforts in the regular season, and given an advantage heading into the Finals.

The first phase of the season, the new-for-2025 Sprint Cup is comprised of 25 races, including the exciting new Super 440 format. The very first race of this year's Sprint Cup will take place at Sydney Motorsport Park, and last at Queensland Raceway, which returns after a six-year absence.

It's important to note that while there are rounds of solo races on either side of the enduros, the first eight Sprint Cup rounds will ultimately play a key role in who makes the Finals, and who won't.

Which rounds constitute the Sprint Cup?

All 13 rounds are part of the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship, and additionally, the first eight rounds will run under the Sprint Cup banner.

The season will begin in Sydney, followed by multi-race events at Albert Park, Taupō, Tasmania, Perth, Darwin, Townsville and the returning Queensland Raceway in Ipswich.

All rounds will feature three races, with the Grand Prix event retaining the popular four-race SuperSprint format.

The new Super 440 format, which features dual 120km races on Saturday and a 200km refuelling race on Sunday, will be used at Taupō, Tasmania, Perth, Darwin, and Ipswich.

There will be a 100km Friday race and 200km refuelling races on Saturday and Sunday in Sydney and Townsville.

Why does performing in, and winning the Sprint Cup, matter?

At the end of the Ipswich weekend, the last of the first eight rounds, the Sprint Cup will be awarded to driver with the most points.

Crucially, that driver will gain automatic entry into the Finals Series, which will commence at Round 11 on the Gold Coast, followed by Round 12 at Sandown, and the Grand Final in Adelaide.

After Bathurst, the Enduro Cup champion will be also crowned and, as with the Sprint Cup champion, the winner gains automatic entry to the Finals.

There are a maximum of 2525 points up for grabs in the first eight rounds, so performing in the Sprint Cup phase will be vital for drivers chasing a Finals berth. Given the risks associated with the 300-point enduro races, drivers will be more determined than ever to make the opening rounds count.

Additionally, if the Sprint and Enduro champions are within the top 10, only eight other spots will be available for the Finals.

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