Supercars removes fuel drop for Gold Coast

Supercars has removed the minimum fuel drop rule for the upcoming Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, opening the door for more strategy thrillers.

In event regulations released Wednesday, headlined by the track schedule, the fuel drop has been removed for the October 25-27 event. Tickets are on sale now.

At the start of the season, all refuelling events — bar the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000 — were initially slated to have a minimum fuel drop. For Sandown and Bathurst, there is no fuel drop, nor a compulsory pit stop (CPS) count, save for brake changes.

The Super400 events — Taupō and Sydney — had a minimum 80-litre fuel drop. Super500 events — Bathurst 500, Townsville, Gold Coast and Adelaide — have two CPSs, with an aggregate fill of 100 litres in each.

The rule was later removed for the ITM Taupō Super400 in April, before being reinstated for Townsville and Sydney.

The rule has now been removed for the Gold Coast, where drivers will still have to make two compulsory pit stops and change at least two tyres in both 85-lap races.

Following the Gold Coast, there will be a review of the rule, and if it will also be removed for the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500.

“After Sandown and Bathurst, where you don't have a minimum drop, we’re removing that requirement for the Gold Coast,” Supercars General Manager of Motorsport Tim Edwards told Supercars.com.

“After the Gold Coast, we're going review it again at the next Commission meeting, whether we do the same again for Adelaide."

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Repco Bathurst 1000 on October 10-13. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. The Seven Network will take free to air coverage. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.