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2023 Supercars Championship

The 2023 Supercars Championship (known for commercial reasons as the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship) was a motor racing series for Supercars.

It was the twenty-fifth running of the Supercars Championship and the twenty-seventh series in which Supercars have contested the Australian Touring Car Championship, the premier title in Australian motorsport. It was the sixty-fourth season of touring car racing in Australia.

The 2023 season saw the introduction of Gen3, a revision to the sport's technical regulations. These regulations were designed to cut costs for competitors by introducing more standardised components to the cars and redesigning the chassis to favour coupé body shapes.

Brodie Kostecki and Erebus Motorsport secured their first Drivers' and Teams' Champions respectively.[1][2]

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers competed in the 2023 championship.

Manufacturer changes

Chevrolet returned to the series for the first time since 1984, replacing Holden and the ZB Commodore with the Camaro ZL1.[48]

All Ford teams upgraded to the Mustang GT S650.[49]

Team changes

Walkinshaw Andretti United switched from Holden to Ford.[26] In addition, Walkinshaw Andretti United is receiving the same treatment as Dick Johnson Racing, Tickford Racing, Blanchard Racing Team and Grove Racing by receiving factory support from Ford Performance.

Driver changes

Cameron Hill graduated from the Super2 Series to race full time at Matt Stone Racing. He replaced Todd Hazelwood, who joined Blanchard Racing Team, replacing Tim Slade, who joined PremiAir Racing replacing Chris Pither.[50][30][21]

Declan Fraser graduated from the Super2 Series to replace Jake Kostecki after Tickford Racing terminated his contract early. Kostecki was contracted to race with the team throughout 2023.[36][51]

Matthew Payne graduated from the Super2 Series to race full time at Grove Racing. He replaced Lee Holdsworth, who announced his retirement from full-time competition at the end of the 2022 season.[40][52]

Calendar

Twelve, down from thirteen in 2022, circuits are due to host a round of the 2023 championship.

Calendar changes

The Newcastle 500 returned as the season opener, after a three-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[53]

The Melbourne 400 and Perth SuperNight reverted to a SuperSprint format.

The Sandown 500 will return to the calendar for the first time 2019, and the first as the precursor to the Bathurst 1000 since 2018.[54]

Pukekohe Park Raceway closed, citing the focus on horse racing and club facilities:[55] a new venue in New Zealand was unable to be secured for 2023.[56]

The Winton SuperSprint was omitted from the calendar.[56]

Rule changes

Gen3

Gen3 made its debut, replacing the Car of the Future regulations that débuted in 2013, with regulations designed to lower costs of a standard Supercar.[57] It was due to debut midway through 2022, but due to ongoing challenges with international supply chains and domestic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed to 2023.[58]

The regulations introduced more controlled components into the cars to address the rising costs of maintaining a car. The pedal kit, brake kit and wheels became control components, with tenders needing the rims to be 'finger friendly' for pit crew during a pit stop. The roll cage lowered by 100mm to be suited to coupes, after the controversy surrounding the Ford Mustang GT, which required the roof to be stretched beyond the dimensions of its road-going counterpart to fit the Car of the Future chassis. Supercars manufactured the roll cage in kit form for teams that do not have the budget to build one themselves.[59][60][61][62]

The engines on Gen3 were overhauled, with pushrod engines replaced with fuel-injected, V8 engines, with the Camaro running a 5.7 Litre LTR V8, while the Mustang will run a 5.4 Litre Coyote V8. This is intended to modernise the engine and significantly reduce costs of building and maintaining them.[63][64][65]

Aerodynamic downforce was cut by 67% to encourage closer racing and easier overtaking after complaints from drivers about dirty air and aerowash from current Gen2 cars.[66]

Minimum weight was decreased from 1,400 kg to 1,335 kg, with a 95 kg minimum of driver and seat weight combination.[67] Later, it was increased to 1,340 kg from the Sandown 500.[68]

Triple Eight Race Engineering oversaw the development of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as a replacement for the Holden ZB Commodore. The Camaro ZL1 was chosen after parent company General Motors decided to discontinue the Holden brand and shut down production of the Commodore.[48] Dick Johnson Racing oversaw the development of the S650 Mustang.[69][70]

Other changes

A new E75 fuel blend was introduced, down from E85 that was used from 2009, while utilising more renewable bio fuels to lower carbon emissions.[71]

Ahead of the Perth SuperSprint an LED display was added to the windscreen to show information such as a driver's position in the race, practice, or qualifying session to spectators.[72]

Ahead of the Gold Coast 500 a Full Course Yellow system was implemented, although the system saw no use during the event itself.[73]

Results

Season summary

Points

Points system

Points were awarded for each race at an event, to the driver or drivers of a car that completed at least 75% of the race distance and was running at the completion of the race. At least 50% of the planned race distance must be completed for the result to be valid and championship points awarded. No extra points were awarded if the fastest lap time is achieved by a driver who was classified outside the top fifteen.

Drivers' Championship

Teams' Championship

Notes

  1. ^ Cameron Waters unofficially finished 3rd, but he was credited the win after the cars of Shane van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney were disqualified after a protest lodged by Tickford Racing and Walkinshaw Andretti United related to the use of dry ice in a specific banned location.[74][75]

References

  1. ^ Herrero, Daniel (25 November 2023). "Kostecki clinches championship as Waters wins Race 27". Speedcafe.
  2. ^ Herrero, Daniel (26 November 2023). "Payne breakthrough at Adelaide 500, Erebus wins teams' title". Speedcafe.
  3. ^ a b GM responds to WAU Ford switch Supercars Championship 6 May 2022
  4. ^ a b Ford caps number of 2023 Supercars entries Autosport 10 May 2022
  5. ^ a b c d e Dale, Will (13 January 2023). "Supercars 2023 entry list: Every car and driver". V8Sleuth.
  6. ^ a b c d BJR confirms 2023 Bathurst, Sandown co-drivers Speedcafe.com 25 May 2023
  7. ^ a b Pavey, James (30 July 2022). "Erebus retains Brown, Kostecki for 2023". Supercars.
  8. ^ Pavey, James (6 February 2023). "Erebus re-signs Perkins for enduros, Super2". Supercars.
  9. ^ Erebus confirms David Russell for Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe.com 8 March 2023
  10. ^ Pavey, James (11 September 2022). "Winterbottom signs new multi-year Team 18 deal". Supercars.
  11. ^ Nine seats left: 2023 co-driver market Supercars 5 May 2023
  12. ^ Team 18 confirms Pye contract extension Supercars 22 September 2021
  13. ^ Luff to Team 18 for Supercars enduros Speedcafe.com 5 May 2023
  14. ^ Pavey, James (21 October 2022). "PremiAir Racing confirms Slade signing". Supercars.
  15. ^ Webb named as Slade co-driver for Supercars enduros Speedcafe.com 20 July 2023
  16. ^ PremiAir confirms Golding for 2023 Supercars season Speedcafe.com 3 November 2022
  17. ^ Golding’s co-driver announced for Sandown and Bathurst Supercars 21 June 2023
  18. ^ MSR to race Camaros in 2023 Supercars 13 May 2022
  19. ^ Pavey, James (27 October 2021). "Le Brocq signs multi-year Matt Stone Racing deal". Supercars.
  20. ^ MSR confirms Jayden Ojeda for Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe.com 18 May 2023
  21. ^ a b Pavey, James (18 November 2022). "Rookie Hill scores second MSR seat". Supercars.
  22. ^ Truck Assist Racing finalises Bathurst 1000 line-up Speedcafe.com 6 June 2023
  23. ^ Feeney confirmed as Whincup replacement at Triple Eight Supercars 31 August 2021
  24. ^ Feeney/Whincup combo retained for 2023 enduros Supercars 4 May 2023
  25. ^ T8 confirms Stanaway as van Gisbergen co-driver Speedcafe.com 13 January 2023
  26. ^ a b Herrero, Daniel (2022-05-06). "WAU's sensational move to Ford confirmed". Speedcafe.com.
  27. ^ Pavey, James (26 October 2021). "WAU confirms Percat on multi-year deal". Supercars.
  28. ^ a b WAU confirms Holdsworth and Coulthard for 2023 Supercars enduros Speedcafe.com 15 February 2023
  29. ^ Mostert inks long-term WAU extension Speedcafe.com 15 June 2021
  30. ^ a b Herrero, Daniel (3 October 2022). "BRT confirms Hazelwood for 2023 Supercars season". Speedcafe.
  31. ^ a b "Jake Kostecki to return in BRT wildcard". V8 Sleuth. 1 August 2023.
  32. ^ Pavey, James (11 October 2021). "Courtney signs multi year deal with Tickford". Supercars.
  33. ^ a b c d Bathurst and Sandown Tickford pairings confirmed Speedcafe.com 13 July 2023
  34. ^ Pavey, James (25 October 2021). "Tickford confirms new multi-year Waters deal". Supercars.
  35. ^ Randle confirmed at Tickford for 2023 Supercars season Speedcafe.com 11 August 2022
  36. ^ a b Declan Fraser confirmed at Tickford Speedcafe.com 13 January 2023
  37. ^ a b DJR retains De Pasquale and Davison for 2023 Speedcafe.com 17 August 2022
  38. ^ O’Brien, Connor (28 February 2023). "DJR co-drivers locked in for 2023 enduros". V8 Sleuth.
  39. ^ O’Brien, Connor (28 February 2023). "DJR co-drivers locked in for 2023 enduros". V8 Sleuth.
  40. ^ a b c Grove confirms 2023 Supercars driver line-up Speedcafe.com 29 September 2022
  41. ^ Grove names Porsche WEC driver in Supercars enduro line-up Speedcafe.com 7 March 2023
  42. ^ a b Grove Racing announces Bathurst 1000 pairings Speecafe.com 23 August 2023
  43. ^ Tander joins Grove Racing as co-driver Speedcafe.com 9 December 2022
  44. ^ Pavey, James (27 May 2023). "Triple Eight reveals enduro wildcard, announce Darwin entry". Supercars.
  45. ^ Goddard scores Triple Eight wildcard seat Supercars 24 January 2023
  46. ^ O'Brien, Connor (2023-08-22). "Bathurst 1000-winning number set for Supercars return". Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  47. ^ DJR confirms De Silvestro-Allen wildcard for Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe.com 25 July 2023
  48. ^ a b "Triple Eight to race Camaro in 2022". Speedcafe. 15 October 2020.
  49. ^ Pavey, James (15 September 2022). "Ford launches all-new Mustang". Supercars.
  50. ^ Pavey, James (14 October 2022). "PremiAir Racing confirms Pither exit". Supercars.
  51. ^ O'Brian, Connor (11 January 2023). "Tickford confirm Kostecki split". V8Sleuth.
  52. ^ Pavey, James (30 August 2022). "Holdsworth announces shock retirement". Supercars.
  53. ^ Supercars announces tentative date for 2023 season-opener Speedcafe 15 July 2022
  54. ^ Pavey, James (23 November 2022). "Sandown 500 makes comeback in 2023". Supercars.
  55. ^ Auckland's Pukekohe Park Pulling Pin on Supercars Auto Action 20 July 2022
  56. ^ a b Pavey, James (23 November 2022). "2023 Repco Supercars Championship calendar announced". Supercars.
  57. ^ Coch, Mat (18 October 2019). "Emotional Rogers confirms GRM's Supercars exit". Speedcafe. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
  58. ^ "Supercars statement regarding Gen3". Supercars Championship.
  59. ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (14 August 2020). "New Supercars Gen3 details emerge". Motorsport.com.
  60. ^ Chapman, Simon (4 September 2020). "Supercars set to offer Gen3 chassis in kit form". Speedcafe.
  61. ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (12 August 2019). "Supercars Camaro needs '50 to 80 millimetre' roll hoop adjustment". Motorsport.com.
  62. ^ Connor, O'Brian (3 September 2020). "Gen3 prototype aim for March 2021". Supercars Championship.
  63. ^ van Leeuwen, Andrew (10 July 2021). "Chevrolet 5.7-litre V8 coming to Supercars". Motorsport.com.
  64. ^ DJR confirms Ford Coyote V8 for Gen3 Supercars Which Car 5 November 2020
  65. ^ Kirby, Cameron (13 September 2020). "New engine rules set for Supercars in 2022". Whichcar.com.au.
  66. ^ Chapman, Simon (17 March 2021). "Supercars to slash downforce by 67 percent". Speedcafe. Archived from the original on 2021-03-16.
  67. ^ Supercars confirms minimum weights for Gen3 cars Speedcafe.com 2 March 2023
  68. ^ Supercars increases minimum car weights Speedcafe.com 7 September 2023
  69. ^ DJR to race on, develop Gen3 Mustang Supercars Championship 24 October 2020
  70. ^ Pavey, James (16 September 2022). "New Gen3 Mustang to debut in Bathurst". Supercars.
  71. ^ Supercars.com (22 February 2023). "New bp E75 Racing Fuel for Repco Supercars Championship". Supercars.
  72. ^ "First look: LED displays on Gen3 Supercars". Supercars. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  73. ^ "Supercars to trial Full Course Yellow system at Gold Coast | Supercars". www.supercars.com. Retrieved 2023-10-29.
  74. ^ Triple Eight Camaros disqualified over Newcastle technical breach Speedcafe.com 12 March 2023
  75. ^ Triple Eight loses appeal over Newcastle disqualification Speedcafe.com 22 March 2022

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