2015 V8 Supercars Race Format

After a move to a more simple race format structure in 2014, the V8 Supercars Championship will again feature the three key formats in 2015 – the SuperSprint, SuperStreet and the Pirtek Enduro Cup events. Only minor format modifications have been made, but 2015 sees shorter sprint races back on the calendar with the goal being maximum attack and multiple race winners.

SuperSprint

This year, the eight SuperSprint events comprises of two 60km races on Saturday and a single 200km race on Sunday. While the two 60km Saturday heats bring to mind the 60/60 format seen in 2013, each race will feature standings starts with points awarded at the end of both.

The minimum fuel drop requirement of 120 litres remains in place for Sunday’s 200km race. Introduced at the 2013 Gold Coast 600, this regulation was brought in to address fuel consumption differences between manufacturers.

Each SuperSprint event will include 120 minutes of Friday practice to incorporate team testing, with additional 15 minute sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Additional drivers will be permitted to participate in these practice sessions.

SuperStreet

Three rounds form the SuperStreet events with the Castrol Townsville 400 returning to its original 200km race format each day after it was extended to 500km in 2014 to match the two 250km race format used at Adelaide and Sydney.

Two separate 125 km races still make up Saturday’s races at Adelaide and Sydney. There is no compulsory re-fuelling in either of the two races, but one pit stop for two tyres must be completed in each race. The cars can only head for the pit lane once the leader commences lap five. Sunday’s 250 km races include pitstops for tyres with the minimum fuel drop set at 140 litres.

All three SuperStreet rounds feature a Top-Ten Shootout, where the fastest ten qualifiers complete one flying lap each to determine the top ten on the grid.

Each SuperStreet event will include 90 minutes of Friday practice with an additional 20 minute session on Saturday. Additional drivers will be permitted to participate in these practice sessions.

Pirtek Enduro Cup

The Pirtek Enduro Cup format remains unchanged from 2014. The Cup is awarded to the pair of drivers who accumulate the highest points tally across V8 Supercars’ three endurance rounds the Sandown 500, the Bathurst 1000 and the two 300km Gold Coast 600 races.

Regulations for these events call for two drivers per car, the regular series driver plus a co-driver. Teams cannot pair their regular drivers in the same entry, but must find non-championship drivers to share driving duties. Teams have the choice whether to field an Australian driver or international co-driver to partner their regular driver and can select drivers to compete across all three endurance events and run the same co-driver in all three or in any combination they choose.

All Enduro Cup races require mandatory pit stops for tyres, fuel and driver changes, but this year the Pirtek Enduro Cup will see the compulsory pit stop requirement that was introduced for the Wilson Security Sandown 500 and the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in 2014 extend to the Castrol Gold Coast 600. Teams will need to complete a minimum of four pit stops at Sandown, seven at Bathurst, and two in each race at the Gold Coast.

Co-drivers must complete a compulsory minimum of 54 laps at the Sandown 500 and the Bathurst 1000, and no driver can exceed 107 laps. The Gold Coast 600 requires that co-drivers do a minimum of 34 laps in each of the two races.

Qualifying for the Bathurst 1000 and Saturday’s opening race at the Gold Coast feature a Top-Ten Shootout, while qualifying for the Sandown 500 comprises of one x 20 minute qualifying session and two x 60 km ‘Qualifying Races‘ on Saturday. Results of the 20 minute qualifying session set the grid positions for the first Qualifying Race. Grid positions for the second Qualifying Race will be determined from the finishing order of the first Qualifying Race. Both Qualifying Races do not include pit-stops. The finishing position of the second Qualifying Race determines the grid order for the main race. It’s still to be confirmed, but it’s expected that the 20 minute qualifying session on Saturday will be open to any driver, co-drivers will compete in the first Qualifying Race and the second Qualifying Race, will be contested by the regular drivers.