bp pulse introduces first ever electric Supercars Safety Car
Supercars
16 Feb
Porsche Taycan GTS to be Supercars' first ever electric Safety Car
New electric Safety Car to debut at Thrifty Bathurst 500
bp, Porsche, and Supercars collaboration the latest step in sustainability sector
Supercars is thrilled to announce an electrifying partnership with bp and Porsche, where the all-electric Porsche Taycan GTS will serve as the bp pulse Safety Car starting at this month’s Thrifty Bathurst 500.
The Porsche Taycan GTS will make history as Supercars’ first ever electric Safety Car, and will be able to recharge at a pit lane-based bp pulse rapid EV charging station when not in service on the track.
The collaboration between bp, Porsche, and Supercars is the latest step the championship has taken in the sustainability sector, following the adoption of bp’s lower carbon* Ultimate E75 Racing Fuel in 2023, and a tyre recycling partnership with Gold Coast-based Entyre, forming a pilot program at the 2023 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
This year marks the fifth season bp has served as the official fuel of the Repco Supercars Championship, filling the tanks of every vehicle on the Supercars grid.
Two Porsche Taycan GTS Safety Cars will be present at every Supercars event, working in rotation to ensure the highest safety standards for all categories.
With up to 440kW of power, the Taycan GTS is capable of speeds up to 250 km/h, and can accelerate from 0-100 in 3.7 seconds, within two tenths of a Gen3 Supercar.
Launched in Australia in late 2022, bp pulse serves as the electrification arm of bp, and aims to build the country’s most convenient rapid EV charging network and customer experience.
Over 100 bp pulse rapid EV charge points have been installed across the country, while the company aims to have more than 100,000 charge points installed worldwide by 2030.
This state-of-the-art electric Porsche Taycan GTS will serve as the Safety Car for all event categories, showcasing the performance, innovation, and sustainability that the Porsche marque is renowned for.
Supercars COO Tim Watsford welcomed the new joint partnership, and has lauded the new bp pulse Safety Car as a considerable step forward for the series.
"This collaboration between the Repco Supercars Championship, Porsche, and bp pulse represents a significant milestone for the Championship,” Watsford said.
“Introducing the Porsche Taycan GTS as our official Safety Car, and the first electric Safety Car in Supercars history, showcases our shared dedication to innovation, sustainability, and delivering a world-class racing experience."
bp Vice President Marketing Asia Pacific, Amanda Woollard, said using an electric safety car is momentous for the Supercars competition.
“bp is keeping the Supercars grid moving as official fuel supplier and now adding our EV charging expertise into the mix, after starting with the bp Ultimate Safety Car four years ago.
“This year, we’re revved up and ready to show motorsport fans how bp can keep them powered up, whether through our quality bp Ultimate fuel or recharging at a bp pulse EV charge point.”
Porsche Motorsport Manager Barry Hay is excited to see the German marque’s latest technical innovation join forces with Supercars and bp to showcase a special first in the category’s history.
“The Porsche Taycan GTS stands as an extraordinary engineering achievement in its own right, representing a recent stride in Porsche's rich history of groundbreaking innovation,,” Hay said.
“To put this car on display at the pinnacle of Australian motorsport in front of the millions who attend and watch Supercars races is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate what the Porsche Taycan GTS is capable of.”
“As race fans, we rarely like to see the bp pulse Safety Car on-track, but we are looking forward to having the Porsche Taycan GTS play such an integral a role in Supercars events from 2024 onward.”
The Porsche Taycan GTS bp pulse Safety Car will be present at the upcoming Bathurst SuperFest, sitting on display at the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour in bp Pusle EV Park from February 16-18, before leading the 24-car Supercar field at the Thrifty Bathurst 500 the following weekend.
Live coverage of both race weekends can be followed on the Foxtel and Seven family of networks.
Tickets to the Repco Bathurst 12 Hour and Thrifty Bathurst 500 can be purchased via Ticketek. Campsite information can be found at supercars.com and bathurst12hour.com.au.
* bp E75 Racing Fuel has a lower Well-to-Wheel carbon intensity compared to the fuel produced and supplied by bp for the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship.
