Motorsport Australia has confirmed the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship will return in 2024, with the Supercheap Auto TCR Australia Series to determine the winner.
 
Manufacturers competing in the Series will be eligible for the prize, with points awarded throughout the TCR season.
 
Competing as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries, with live and free coverage across the Seven Network in 2024, the Championship is expected to be fiercely contested between the wide range of manufacturers competing.
 
While some manufacturers will have more cars competing than others, a points system has been created to ensure a fair playing field to reward high performers, rather than manufacturers simply with the highest number of entries.
 
For each race throughout the TCR Series, points shall be awarded based on the highest finishing entry from each eligible manufacturer. 
1st placed manufacturer: 5 points (will always be race winner)
2nd placed manufacturer: 3 points
3rd placed manufacturer: 1 point
 
For the avoidance of doubt, if a manufacturer takes 1st and 2nd in a race, only their 1st vehicle will receive points, as follows:
1st Manufacturer X (5 points)
2nd Manufacturer X
3rd Manufacturer Y (3 points)
4th Manufacturer X
5th Manufacturer Z (1 point)
 
Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport & Commercial Operations Michael Smith said the re-introduction of the Australian Manufacturers’ Championship was an important addition to the motorsport landscape.
 
“The Australian Manufacturers’ Championship has a strong history in Australian motorsport and we are thrilled to re-introduce it to the TCR Australia Series in 2024,” Smith said.
 
“There is a wide range of engaged manufacturers in TCR with hotly contested racing every round, so adding this further incentive for manufacturers to compete for another piece of silverware is certainly an exciting addition to the category and the Shannons SpeedSeries.”
 
The Australian Manufacturers’ Championship was last awarded in 2015 to BMW, after first being introduced in 1971. It was last awarded to the winning manufacturer in the Australian Production Cars Series. Previous winners throughout the many years of the trophy’s history include Holden, Ford, BMW, Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai.
 
Manufacturers must apply to be eligible for the Championship and can do so here.