Major changes to race format for V8 Supercars 2013

The V8 Supercars will implement major changes to the race format for the 2013 season. A new “60/60 Super Sprint Format” will be introduced with a 120 kilometer race split in to two 60 kilometer races separated by just 15 minutes on Saturdays of the race weekends.
“These are the most significant changes we have made to our formats in the history of the sport,” said V8 Supercar head Shane Howard.

A regular qualifying session will determine the grid for the first 60 km race while the grid for the second 60 km race gets its starting order from the finishing order of the first race. Champion points and podium results will decided with the final result of the second half of the race.

The second half of the race will use a rolling start and no refueling is allowed in either halves of the race. The Sunday’s races will feature two independent 120 km races, both without refueling.

Six races of the total 16 will be run in the “60/60 Super Sprint Format”: Symmons Plains, Barbagallo, Hidden Valley, Queensland Raceway, Winton and Phillip Island.

The Clipsal 500, Sucrogen Townsville 400 and Sydney 500 will keep their race formats, as well as the Sandown 500, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and ARMOR ALL Gold Coast 600, with the final three races being the only ones featuring refueling.

The V8 Supercars Commission will also change the tyre compound for next year as well, in order to “ensure they are best suited to the best racing at each individual circuit”.
“With the new marques joining Ford and Holden in 2013 it was an opportunity for a change across the board while continuing the great traditions of our signature events. These changes are purely designed for the teams and drivers to race hard and fight for every position,” said Howard.

The format for Yas Marina, Austin and Pukekohe has not been finalized yet.