Qualifying will take on extra importance in this year’s Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series, with the top five fastest drivers to get the added benefit of Series points.
 
This year, the Astrontech pole sitter for every event will score a vital 10 series points – meaning the battle for pole will be on from the outset.
 
Second through to fifth place will also score points, with a sliding scale of 7, 5, 3 and 2 points awarded.
 
In a further boost, the driver who sets the fastest lap in each of the weekend’s three races will score a bonus point.


 
Head of Category Operations at the Australian Racing Group Ben McMellan said the change would provide extra competition in qualifying at each round.
 
“The change will put more emphasis on qualifying to ensure every driver has an extra incentive to go as hard as they can in that session,” McMellan said.
 
“We want to see our drivers and teams always pushing the limits, in every session, and we feel this is going to add more spice to the most important sessions of a race weekend.
 
“For qualifying, it needs to have real meaning. Almost all of the qualifying sessions were broadcast on Stan Sport in 2022, and the plan is to keep that for 2023, so we want to ensure that it is an unmissable session – whether fans are watching the Stan broadcast or trackside.”
 
The category also confirmed race formats for 2023 will remain unchanged. The starting order of the first race will be determined by qualifying positions, with the winner taking 50 points. The second race will feature the exciting reverse top 10, with 40 series points on the line. The final race will see the starting order determined by the total points from Races 1 and 2, with the winner of Race 3 also taking 50 series points.
 
The opening round of the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series takes place at AWC Race Tasmania on 24-26 February at Symmons Plains, with tickets to the event available from motorsporttickets.com.au.