The Supercars rule changes to know in 2024

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will feature a raft of changes, ranging from a Live Pit Lane to a key change for the enduros.

With just over a month until teams arrive at Mount Panorama for the Thrifty Bathurst 500, Supercars.com highlights the changes you need to know for 2024.

Live Pit Lane

A live pit lane will debut in the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship.

For the first round in 2024, the Thrifty Bathurst 500, the pit lane order will be allocated by Supercars based on the final classification of the final 2023 teams' championship order.

At Round 1, Erebus Motorsport will occupy Pit Bay 1, followed by Red Bull Ampol Racing in Pit Bay 2, and so on.

From Round 2 onwards, the pit lane order will be allocated by Supercars based on the final classification of the team points report of the previous event.

Primary Drivers starting enduros

Primary drivers must now start the race at endurance events, which in 2024, are the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 and Repco Bathurst 1000.

Per Rule D7.2.1.1 b, the primary driver — either the full-time driver or nominated primary driver in a wildcard entry — must be behind the wheel when the lights go out to start the race.

Previously, either driver in a pairing could start the race, with co-drivers starting the race in recent years with an eye on the primary drivers double- or triple-stinting home.

Full Course Yellow and Safety Car Procedure

There are changes to Safety Car (SC) Procedure for 2024, which includes the introduction of the Full Course Yellow (FCY) Procedure. 

The Race Director may declare a FCY period, similar to Formula One’s Virtual Safety Car or Code 60 in sports car racing, for reasons of safety. 

A FCY period will be in operation from the moment a FCY countdown is indicated by waved yellow flag signals and accompanying FCY boards at all flag posts. 

Drivers will have 15 seconds to reduce their speed to maximum of 80km/h and engage the FCY/SC speed limiter. Speeds will be monitored and any car exceeding 80km/h will be reported to the stewards.

Each lap completed under FCY will be counted as a race lap. The pit lane will remain open and pit entry and pit exit roads will be subject to a maximum speed of 80km/h.

Approaching the end of the FCY, there will be a countdown of 15 seconds after which the FCY period will end. This will be indicated by replacing the waved yellow flags/FCY boards with waved green flags.

If necessary, the FCY period may be replaced by a full SC deployment or the display of waved red flags. If a full SC is deployed, drivers will have 15 seconds to reduce their speed to maximum of 80km/h and engage the FCY/SC speed limiter.

Following the direction of the Race Director, the FCY/SC speed limiter may be deactivated, and cars permitted to accelerate and catch the line of cars behind the SC.

Superlicence

Motorsport Australia has worked in partnership with Supercars to determine a new Superlicence system, with new eligibility criteria to benefit the whole of motorsport.

The Superlicence criteria has been approved by the Motorsport Australia Board, Supercars and the Australian Motor Race Commission.

The changes provide a clear pathway to compete in the country’s top tier motorsport category, with a wide range of national level motorsport categories receiving points that contribute to the new licence structure.

Competitors require a minimum of 15 points under the new structure. As well as collecting 15 points, drivers will require a FIA International Grade C Circuit Licence (or higher) and be at least 17-year-old.

Competitors with experience racing outside of Australia and New Zealand will require a minimum of a FIA International Grade C Circuit Licence (or higher) and will need approval from a Licence Review Committee made up of Motorsport Australia and Supercars representatives, including the category’s Driver Standards Advisor, Craig Baird.

Supercars teams will be required to submit the application for a Superlicence on behalf of any driver. The Superlicence will remain free for all Australian and New Zealand drivers, as it was previously.

Pit Discipline

Team members not permitted to cross the fast lane when pushing/pulling a car from its pit bay.

Engines

Once an engine has been sealed by Supercars, it will be required to achieve a minimum engine mileage of 5000km before seal removal will be permitted for a minor service, or 8000km for a major service.

In 2023, once an engine had been sealed by Supercars, it was required to achieve a minimum engine mileage of 4000km for a minor service.