From 2025, Supercars drivers will take an historic new path in the fight for championship glory.
So, how does it work? Supercars.com breaks down the new Finals system, which will debut in the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship.
A three-part season
Sprint Cup: Rounds 1-8, 25 races
Enduro Cup: Rounds 9-10, 2 races
Finals: Rounds 11-13, 7 races
The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will be held over 34 races across 13 rounds, in three different segments: Sprint Cup, Enduro Cup, and the Finals.
The Sprint Cup is the first eight rounds, which are comprised of 25 races. The Enduro Cup is comprised of the Tailem Bend and Bathurst events, while the Finals is a three-round, seven-race fight for the title.
Basics of the Finals
10 drivers qualify for the Finals after Bathurst
Winners of Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup gain automatic entry
Per 2024, each round is worth 300 points
Fastest lap bonus points on offer for each race bar Enduro Cup races
Finals for the 2025 championship occur post-Bathurst over the last three rounds at the Gold Coast, Sandown and Adelaide.
Only 10 drivers will be eligible for the Finals based on championship points from the regular season, which is all 27 races up to and including Bathurst, and 'Cup' winning eligibility.
What does that mean? Simply, the winners of the Sprint Cup and the Enduro Cup each have automatic entry into the Finals, and receive 25 bonus points to start the first round of the Finals with.
The remaining positions for the Finals are based on regular season championship points.
As per 2024, each round is worth 300 points. There will also be five bonus points for the driver who sets the fastest lap in all races other than Enduro Cup races. As per 2024, the fastest lap is only eligible for bonus points if the driver finishes in the top 15. These contribute to championship points for that round.
All drivers are eligible to earn points in each race until the end of the championship. However, only primary drivers associated with a TRC are eligible for the Finals.
The Finals system
10 drivers go into Round 11, three are eliminated
7 drivers go into Round 12, three are eliminated
4 drivers go into Round 13, top point scorer wins title
Win at Gold Coast or Sandown gets driver into next round
Round 11
At the first round of the Finals at the Gold Coast, all 10 drivers in the Finals have their championship points reset to 3000 points. Standings from the regular season then define the regular season bonus points.
The driver in first has 150 points, with a decreasing bonus of 120, 96, 78, 66, 57, 48, 39, 30 down to 21 points for 10th. Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup Bonus points are then applied.
If a driver wins either race at the Gold Coast round, they are automatically into the next Finals round at Sandown.
After the two races at the Gold Coast, the three Finals drivers with the lowest points in the championship (eighth, ninth and 10th) are eliminated, unless those drivers have won a race at the event. In that case, the next driver with the lowest points in the championship would be eliminated, leaving seven drivers in contention going into the semi-final round at Sandown.
Round 12
The seven remaining drivers in the Finals at Sandown have their championship points set to 4000 points. Championship standings from post-Gold Coast define the semi-final bonus points: 150 points for first, with a decreasing bonus of 120, 96, 78, 66, 57 down to 48 points for seventh. The highest point scorer will have 4150, then down to seventh on 4048 points.
If a driver wins either race at the Sandown round, they are automatically into the next Finals round at Adelaide.
After the two races at Sandown, the three Finals drivers with the lowest points in the championship (fifth, sixth, seventh after Sandown) are eliminated, unless those drivers have won a race at this event. In that case, the next driver with the lowest points in the championship would be eliminated, leaving four drivers in contention for the title at Adelaide.
Round 13
Four drivers go into Adelaide on 5000 points plus Grand Final Bonus points of 50, 30, and 15 for first to third place based on the points score after the Sandown semi-final.
The final three races at Adelaide will determine the championship, where one of the top four drivers will come out on top with the highest championship points total.