2023 REPCO SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP FORMATS

Key

TTSO: Top 10 Shootout

Qualie 1: Single qualifying session

Qualie 2: Three-part knockout qualifying session

1. NEWCASTLE

Newcastle debuted on the Supercars calendar in 2017, hosting the season finale between 2017 and 2019. After dropping off the calendar from 2020 to 2022 due to the COVID19 pandemic, Newcastle returns in a new seasonopening slot, effectively swapping places with the Adelaide 500. There will be two 250-kilometre races run on Dunlop’s soft tyres with top 10 Shootouts for both races in the start of the Gen3 era of Supercars.

DATE: March 10 - 12

TRACK: Newcastle Street Circuit (Newcastle, New South Wales)

LENGTH: 2.63km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 133km/h TOP SPEED: 227km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:09.5949 (2017) – Scott McLaughlin, Ford FG X Falcon

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:10.6403 (2017) – David Reynolds, Holden VF Commodore

Newcastle

DATE: March 30 - April 2

TRACK: Albert Park Circuit (Melbourne, Victoria)

LENGTH: 5.3km DIRECTION: Clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 164km/h TOP SPEED: 256km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:44.8387 (2022) – Shane van Gisbergen, Holden ZB Commodore

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:46.0060 (2022) – Scott Pye, Holden ZB Commodore

2. MELBOURNE

The Australian Grand Prix returned to the calendar in 2022, featuring a new-look layout with opened up corners to improve the racing.

The Melbourne round features compulsory four-tyre pitstops in each of the four sprint races, with a mix of the hard and super-soft tyre making it the only mixed compound event on the calendar.

The first race of the event takes place on a Thursday, a first on that day for the championship.

3. PERTH

Perth hosted a round under lights for the first time in 2019, and was set to do the same in 2020 and 2021 before the cancellation of the event with Western Australia implementing strict border restrictions.

The circuit returned to the calendar in 2022, though the night format is dropped for 2023.

The three races will be run on Dunlop’s soft tyres, with tyre wear always a big factor at the short circuit.

DATE: April 28 - 30

TRACK: Wanneroo Raceway (Perth, Western Australia)

LENGTH: 2.42km DIRECTION: Clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 157km/h TOP SPEED: 252km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

0:52.8141 (2019) – Scott McLaughlin, Ford Mustang RACE LAP RECORD:

0:53.7293 (2019) – James Courtney, Holden ZB Commodore

DATE: May 19 - 21

TRACK: Symmons Plains Raceway (Launceston, Tasmania)

LENGTH: 2.4km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 167km/h TOP SPEED: 270km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

0:50.3450 (2022) – Will Davison, Ford Mustang RACE LAP RECORD:

0:51.2276 (2019) – Mark Winterbottom, Holden ZB Commodore

4. TASMANIA

Supercars returned to Tasmania in 2021, with the popular Symmons Plains Raceway moving back in the calendar in 2023.

The 2023 event features three races run exclusively on Dunlop’s super-soft tyres, the first event of the season to be run solely on the fastest type of rubber.

Like with Perth, the short track tends to produce close racing.

5. DARWIN

Hidden Valley Raceway marks the start of Supercars’ northern Australia winter swing. Like Tasmania, the three races will be run exclusively on Dunlop’s super-soft tyres.

The heat and humidity of Darwin means tyre conservation is key in the races, which makes for interesting events. With its long front straight and tight twists and turns, its a compromise for drivers and teams in terms of car setup.

DATE: June 16 - 18

TRACK: Hidden Valley Raceway (Darwin, Northern Territory)

LENGTH: 2.9km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 149km/h TOP SPEED: 271km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:04.8114 (2022) – Will Davison, Ford Mustang

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:06.5590 (2018) – Nick Percat, Holden ZB Commodore

DATE: July 7 - 9

TRACK: Townsville Street Circuit (Townsville, Queensland)

LENGTH: 2.86km DIRECTION: Clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 144km/h TOP SPEED: 260km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:11.9908 (2017) – Scott McLaughlin, Ford FG X Falcon

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:12.9311 (2017) – Nick Percat, Holden VF Commodore

6. TOWNSVILLE

After a run of sprint races, drivers suit up for two 250-kilometre races in Townsville, run on Dunlop’s soft tyres.

The street circuit features fast and flowing sections in addition to narrow and tight parts, which adds to the challenge for drivers. The long races and variety of corner types make for interesting races, in addition to the heat and humidity of north Queensland, with a return to a top 10 Shootout for both qualifying sessions.

7. SYDNEY

The recent installation of 138 towers and over 860 light fittings has made Sydney the home of Supercars’ night event in recent seasons. The upgrades have secured the circuit’s place on the calendar long-term after being on and off the schedule before its regular appearances in recent years.

A longer race run under lights is followed by a shorter race during the day, both run on Dunlop’s soft tyres.

DATE: July 28 - 30

TRACK: Sydney Motorsport Park (Sydney, New South Wales)

LENGTH: 3.9km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 154km/h TOP SPEED: 265km/h

QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:27.7428 (2020) – Scott McLaughlin, Ford Mustang

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:29.8424 (2018) – Jamie Whincup, Holden ZB Commodore

DATE: August 18 - 20

TRACK: The Bend Motorsport Park (Tailem Bend, South Australia)

LENGTH: 4.95km DIRECTION: Clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 162km/h TOP SPEED: 270km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:47.4959 (2019) – Scott McLaughlin, Ford Mustang

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:49.4042 (2019) – David Reynolds, Holden ZB Commodore

8. TAILEM BEND

The Bend Motorsport Park has been a regular on the calendar since its debut in 2018. After the preceding longer races, it’s a brief return to the shorter sprints before the endurance events

The circuit has proven to be one of the most challenging permanent circuits for drivers, with a variety of corner types and elevation and camber changes across the long lap. There is little rest aside from the long front straight.

All three races are run on Dunlop’s soft tyres.

9. SANDOWN

The Sandown 500 makes its long-awaited return in 2023, after the circuit hosted sprint races in its return to the calendar in recent seasons.

The traditional 500-kilometre race gives endurance co-drivers much-needed track time before the Bathurst

1000, with the use of Dunlop’s super-soft tyres set to add some spice. Rather than the qualifying races of recent Sandown 500s, the grid will be set by a top 10 Shootout, as per the format at the Bathurst 1000.

DATE: September 15 - 17

TRACK: Sandown Motor Raceway (Melbourne, Victoria)

LENGTH: 3.1km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 164km/h TOP SPEED: 270km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:07.2078 (2022) – Will Davison, Ford Mustang

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:08.2440 (2019) – Shane van Gisbergen, Holden ZB Commodore

Melbourne

DATE: October 5 - 8

TRACK: Mount Panorama Circuit (Bathurst, New South Wales)

LENGTH: 6.213km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 178km/h TOP SPEED: 300km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

2:03.3736 (2021) – Chaz Mostert, Holden ZB Commodore

RACE LAP RECORD:

2:04.7602 (2019) – Chaz Mostert, Ford Mustang

10. BATHURST

The Mount Panorama Circuit has been home of Australia’s endurance classic, the Bathurst 500/1000, since 1963. The event switched from 500 miles to 1000 kilometres in 1973 and was included in the Australian Touring Car Championship/Supercars in 1999.

In a departure from recent Bathursts, the event will be run on Dunlop’s soft tyres. The move away from the harder rubber is sure to slash lap times, while driver pairings will have the experience from Sandown as opposed to recent seasons.

11. GOLD COAST

The streets of the Gold Coast hosted two 250-kilometre singledriver races in 2022, a departure from the event’s previous format which hosted two-driver races since 2010.

The single-driver tworace format is retained for 2023, with the use of

Dunlop’s soft tyres across both races.

The punishing street circuit saw a number of incidents on its return to the schedule in 2022, with championship considerations at the forefront following the Bathurst 1000 and leading into the Adelaide 500.

DATE: October 27 - 29

TRACK: Gold Coast Street Circuit (Surfers Paradise, Queensland)

LENGTH: 2.96km DIRECTION: Anti-clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 146km/h TOP SPEED: 265km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:09.9179 (2017) – Jamie Whincup, Holden VF Commodore

RACE LAP RECORD:

1:10.0851 (2011) – Will Davison, Ford FG Falcon

12. ADELAIDE

Adelaide

The Adelaide 500 made a triumphant return to the calendar after a threeyear absence in 2022, moving into what will now be its locked in place at the end of the season. The resurfaced track saw new lap records set, with the Dunlop soft tyre to feature across the two

250-kilometre races. After farewelling Holden and the Commodore in 2022, the punishing street circuit will crown the 2023 Supercars champion and first of the Gen3 era. Will it be a Camaro or Mustang that comes out on top?

DATE: November 23 - 26

TRACK: Adelaide Parklands Circuit (Adelaide, South Australia)

LENGTH: 3.22km DIRECTION: Clockwise

AVERAGE SPEED: 146km/h TOP SPEED: 251km/h

PRACTICE/QUALIFYING LAP RECORD:

1:18.6763 (2022) – Chaz Mostert, Holden ZB Commodore RACE LAP RECORD:

1:20.2881 (2022) – Chaz Mostert, Holden ZB Commodore