The Kumho Tyre Australian V8 Touring Car Series will take on a fresh look in 2019 as the third tier in Australian Supercars racing, with the category to be known as the Kumho Tyre Super3 Series. 

While the Super3 Series will remain independently managed by existing category managers, it will sit below the Dunlop Super2 Series and Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.

The series also released their 2019 schedule with four rounds as a Supercars support category at Phillip Island, Winton, Queensland Raceway and The Bend Motorsport Park. 

The series will then conclude their 2019 season with a special Grand Final round at Sandown Raceway as part of the Shannons Nationals. 

Existing Super3 Category Manager Liam Curkpatrick was thrilled with the announcements and the potential possibilities of expansion with the new title.

“We have enjoyed a working relationship with Supercars for some time, both as a support category at several of their events and also on a technical and sporting basis,” Curkpatrick said.

“Formalising the arrangement made sense at both ends and it means we can drop the ‘unofficial’ from the ‘unofficial third tier’ tag we’ve had for some time.

“Having ties with Supercars allows us to better promote the series and the place the series has developed on the pathway to Super2.

“Internally the series will remain unchanged with the same people running the show, a continued relationship with our long-time supporters in Kumho and continuing to work with the great competitor base we have built over a decade of racing.”

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer also welcomed the new addition to one of Australia’s premier categories, with the third tier creating a direct pathway for aspiring drivers to compete in the Championship.

“We’ve seen many drivers make the step up from the current V8 Touring Car Series into the Dunlop Super2 Series and then into part-time or full-time drives in the Supercars Championship, one of the toughest touring categories on the planet,” Seamer said. 

“It has helped develop the careers of current drivers including the youngest driver in Supercars history, Alex Rullo, current Dunlop Super2 driver Shae Davies and former Championship driver Taz Douglas. 

“The Super3 Series also pays tribute to the success of our sport, where young drivers race a range of historically significant cars that had successes in the hands of some of the sport’s great drivers.” 

Since it’s inauguration at Mallala in 2008, the series has held 171 races across 57 rounds with the goal of allowing ineligible Super2 cars to continue racing on a national level.

The Kumho Tyre Super3 Series will open up their 2019 season with a visit to the iconic Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit on 12- 14 April before wrapping up at Sandown on 22-24 September.