Supercars shakes up 2025: New formats, Finals Series introduced

Supercars will refine its racing formats in 2025 and for the first time introduce a Finals Series to determine the Repco Supercars Champion.

Announced at the iconic Mount Panorama circuit this morning, the 2025 championship structure and formats are some of the biggest shakeups the category has ever introduced.

There will be more on-track action through a mixture of sprints, traditional race distances and challenging endurance events, before the Finals Series will be used over the final three rounds of the year.

The season begins with a Sprint Cup, moves into the Enduro Cup, and concludes with a three-event Finals Series, where only the top contenders will fight for the title.

SPRINT CUP

Rounds 1-8, 25 races

The first phase of the season features eight rounds and 25 races, with an exciting new format for weekend racing.

Sydney and Townsville will be a particular highlight with racing action on all three days of the event.

At the end of these eight rounds, the Sprint Cup will be awarded to the top-performing driver, who will gain automatic entry into the Finals Series.

ENDURO CUP

Rounds 9-10, The Bend 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000

Returning for the first time since 2019 will be the Enduro Cup, featuring two of the most gruelling endurance races on the calendar—the inaugural The Bend 500 and the legendary Repco Bathurst 1000.

After Bathurst, the Enduro Cup champion will be crowned and as with the Sprint Cup champion, the winner gains automatic entry to the finals.

Drivers whose season tally of points places them inside the Top 10 of Championship Standings after this phase will advance to the newly introduced Finals series.

If the Sprint and Enduro champions are within the top 10, only eight additional spots will be available for the Finals.

THE FINALS

Rounds 11-13, 7 races

The Finals will determine the 2025 Repco Supercars Champion and feature a new elimination-style format.

The highest point-scorers from the first 27 races, along with the Sprint Cup and Enduro Cup winners, will automatically qualify.

Round 11: Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500

The Finals kick off with Round 11 at the Gold Coast, where the Championship points for all 10 finalists will reset to 3000, and additional bonus points will be awarded based on performance in the regular season.

Any driver from the 10 finalists who wins a race at the Gold Coast event, will be guaranteed a place at the Sandown event.

After the Gold Coast event, the bottom three drivers will be eliminated from title contention, leaving seven drivers to advance.

Round 12: Penrite Oil Sandown 500

In Round 12 at Sandown, the remaining seven drivers' points will reset to 4000.

Any driver from the seven remaining finalists who wins a race at the Sandown event, will be guaranteed a place at the Adelaide Grand Final event.

Bonus points will be applied following the Event, and once again, the bottom three drivers will be eliminated, leaving the top four to battle it out in the final round.

Round 13: VAILO Adelaide Grand Final

The season will culminate in the Grand Final at Adelaide, with the top four finalists’ points reset to 5000.

The champion will be determined across three races – one 100km on Friday, one 250km on Saturday and the final 250km race of the year on Sunday afternoon, with bonus points applied based on previous results.

The highest point scorer at the end of the weekend will be crowned the 2025 Repco Supercars Championship winner.

Throughout the Finals, points will reset between each round, ensuring that every race is critical for the title contenders.

The new format also guarantees that all non-finalists will continue racing throughout the Finals, competing for individual victories while the top drivers battle for the Repco Supercars Championship.

Adding to the complexity of the 2025 season are new tyre strategies, as Dunlop introduces new Soft and Super Soft compounds, while the previous Hard and Soft tyres have been retired.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said: “The emphasis was on improving the racing product and giving drivers the opportunity to always attack without an external factor preventing them from being aggressive.

"Our fans wanted more excitement, more unpredictability, and a true test to find the best champion. The Finals series will do just that.

“With points resetting and drivers being eliminated, we’ve created an environment where the pressure will be at its highest, and only the best will prevail.

“This format is set to change how we crown a champion, and we’re confident it will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very last lap."

Supercars General Manager of Motorsport Tim Edwards said: “The sharp Saturday sprint races early in the season are designed to encourage drivers to attack by alleviating the need to be conservative while trying to maintain tyre life.

“Fans want to see drivers pushing themselves and their cars to the absolute limit, and this format allows them to do that."

"By splitting the season into distinct phases, we’ve created a championship that tests drivers in every possible way.”

Mark Warren, CEO of the South Australian Motorsport Board, said: “The VAILO Adelaide Grand Final will be a major shakeup for the series, producing a must-see event for all motorsport fans over four days.

“Like all sports, we are anticipating this Grand Final in Adelaide to be significant where we will welcome crowds from across the country, eager to attend the first VAILO Adelaide Grand Final in the history of the event and the Repco Supercars Championship, including a new 100km Friday race and the guaranteed battle to be crowned Champion in Adelaide.

“Like all Grand Finals, both tickets and hotel rooms will be in demand and we’re delighted to put on a dramatic conclusion for all to enjoy with more at stake across three races.”

The 2025 Repco Supercars Championship will begin with a three-race over three-night format at the Sydney SuperNight from February 21-23 at Sydney Motorsport Park.

KEY NOTES ABOUT 2025

2025 QUALIFYING FORMATS

Format 1: Single session

Format 2: Two-part knockout qualifying

Format 3: Three-part knockout qualifying

2025 Repco Supercars Championship formats*

Key

Format 1: Single qualifying

Format 2: Two-part knockout qualifying

Format 3: Three-part knockout qualifying

TTSO: Top Ten Shootout

WU: Warm Up

^ Means a Session run under lights at dusk/night

* Subject to change, first published October 9 2024

2025 Repco Supercars Championship tyres and pit stops*

* Subject to change, first published October 9 2024