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===Other changes===
===Other changes===
[[Repco]], who were already the Supercars’ official automotive parts retailer, will succeed [[Virgin Australia]] as the title sponsor of the series until 2025.<ref>[https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/repco-signs-on-as-supercars-naming-rights-partner/ Repco signs on as Supercars' naming rights partner] Supercars Championship 10 September 2020</ref>
[[Repco]], who were already the Supercars’ official automotive parts retailer, will succeed [[Virgin Australia]] as the title sponsor of the series until 2025.<ref>[https://www.supercars.com/news/championship/repco-signs-on-as-supercars-naming-rights-partner/ Repco signs on as Supercars' naming rights partner] Supercars Championship 10 September 2020</ref>

A new five-year broadcast deal will commence in 2021. [[Fox Sports Australia|Fox Sports]] will continue to show all rounds while the [[Seven Network]] will take over from [[Network Ten]] as the free to air broadcaster, showing six rounds live, including the Bathurst 1000.<ref>[https://autoaction.com.au/2020/09/24/supercars-new-200m-tv-deal Supercars new $200m TV deal] ''[[Auto Action]]'' 24 September 2020</ref><ref>[https://mumbrella.com.au/supercars-signs-200m-five-year-broadcast-deal-with-foxtel-and-new-fta-partner-seven-644055 Supercars signs $200m five-year broadcast deal with Foxtel and new FTA partner Seven] ''[[Mumbrella]]'' 24 September 2020</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==

Revision as of 03:58, 25 February 2021

Dick Johnson Racing (pictured in 2019 as DJR Team Penske) will enter the series as the defending teams' champion

The 2021 Supercars Championship (known for commercial reasons as the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship) is a planned motor racing series for Supercars. It is due to be the twenty-fifth running of the Supercars Championship and the twenty-fifth series in which Supercars have contested the Australian Touring Car Championship, the premier title in Australian motorsport. Repco will replace Virgin Australia as naming rights sponsor under a five-year partnership.

Dick Johnson Racing will enter the series as the defending teams' championship, Ford will enter the series as the defending manufacturers' championship.

Teams and drivers

The following teams and drivers are under contract to compete in the 2021 championship. Unless confirmed otherwise, car numbers and chassis types are presumed to carry over from 2020.

Championship entries Bathurst 1000 entries
Manufacturer Model Team No. Driver name Ref. Co-driver name Ref.
Ford Mustang GT Blanchard Racing Team 3 Australia Tim Slade [1] Australia Tim Blanchard [2]
Tickford Racing 5 Australia Jack Le Brocq [3] Australia Thomas Randle
Australia James Moffat
France Alexandre Prémat 		[4]
6 Australia Cameron Waters [5]
44 Australia James Courtney [6]
Kelly Grove Racing 7 New Zealand Andre Heimgartner [7] TBA
26 Australia David Reynolds [8] Australia Luke Youlden [9]
Dick Johnson Racing TBA[a] Australia Anton de Pasquale [10] New Zealand Scott McLaughlin
TBA 		[11]
17 Australia Will Davison [12]
Holden Commodore ZB Walkinshaw Andretti United 2 Australia Bryce Fullwood [13] Australia Warren Luff [14]
25 Australia Chaz Mostert [15] Australia Lee Holdsworth [16]
Brad Jones Racing 4 Australia Jack Smith [17] TBA
8 Australia Nick Percat [18] Australia Dale Wood [19]
14 Australia Todd Hazelwood [20] TBA
96 Australia Macauley Jones [21] New Zealand Chris Pither [22]
Erebus Motorsport 9 Australia Will Brown [23] Australia Jack Perkins [24]
99 Australia Brodie Kostecki [25] Australia David Russell
Team 18 18 Australia Mark Winterbottom [26] Australia Michael Caruso [27]
20 Australia Scott Pye [7] Australia James Golding [27]
Team Sydney 19 New Zealand Fabian Coulthard [28] TBA
22 Australia Garry Jacobson [29] TBA
Matt Stone Racing 34 Australia Jake Kostecki [30] TBA
35 Australia Zane Goddard [30] TBA
Triple Eight Race Engineering 88 Australia Jamie Whincup [31] Australia Craig Lowndes [32]
97 New Zealand Shane van Gisbergen [33] Australia Garth Tander [34]

Team changes

In February 2020, Holden's parent company General Motors announced it would retire the Holden name by the end of 2020.[35] The Commodore ZB will continue to be raced in 2021, albeit with no factory support.[36]

Team Penske sold its majority shareholding in DJR Team Penske at the end of 2020, reverting the team name to Dick Johnson Racing, which was last used in 2014.[37]

The Grove Group purchased a majority in Kelly Racing, to become Kelly Grove Racing.[38]

Blanchard Racing Team will cease to be a customer of Brad Jones Racing and take its Racing Entitlement Contract (REC) to become a standalone team with an ex-23Red Racing Ford Mustang. To allow it to continue fielding four cars, Brad Jones Racing purchased 23Red Racing's REC that was leased to Tickford Racing in 2020, which saw the latter downsize from four cars to three cars.[39][40]

Driver changes

Dick Johnson Racing will field an all new line-up for 2021. Scott McLaughlin will not defend his title, leaving the series to race in the IndyCar Series with Team Penske.[37] This is the first time the champion has not returned to defend his championship since Craig Lowndes did not defend his 1996 title. He will return to drive with the team as an endurance co-driver, subject to Australia relaxing its COVID-19 travel restrictions.[41] Fabian Coulthard moved to Team Sydney. Anton de Pasquale, who moved from Erebus Motorsport,[42] and Will Davison will drive for the team. For Davison, he will return to the team he last raced for full time from 2006 until 2008.

Erebus Motorsport will also field an all new line-up. David Reynolds and Anton de Pasquale left the team, and were replaced by Super2 drivers Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki.[23][25] Reynolds returned to Kelly Grove Racing, having last raced for the team in 2011, to replace Rick Kelly, who retired from full-time racing at the end of 2020.[8][43]

With Tickford Racing scaling back to three cars, Lee Holdsworth departed the team and Jack Le Brocq moved to the number 5 car.Holdsworth joined Walkinshaw Andretti United as an endurance co-driver with Chaz Mostert

Garry Jacobson left Matt Stone Racing to join Team Sydney. Zane Goddard and Jake Kostecki, who shared a car for the team in 2020, will both race for the team in all races.[44]

As a result of Team Sydney signing Fabian Coulthard and Garry Jacobson, Chris Pither and Alex Davison will not return as full-time drivers. Pither joined Brad Jones Racing as an endurance co-driver with Macauley Jones.

Calendar

The following venues are under contract to host a round of the 2021 championship:

Round Event Circuit Location Dates
1 Mount Panorama 500 New South Wales Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst, New South Wales 27–28 February
2 Sandown SuperSprint Victoria (state) Sandown Raceway Springvale, Victoria 19–21 March
3 Tasmania SuperSprint Tasmania Symmons Plains Raceway Launceston, Tasmania 10–11 April
4 The Bend SuperSprint South Australia The Bend Motorsport Park Tailem Bend. South Australia 8–9 May
5 Winton SuperSprint Victoria (state) Winton Motor Raceway Benalla, Victoria 29–30 May
6 Darwin Triple Crown Northern Territory Hidden Valley Raceway Darwin, Northern Territory 19–20 June
7 Townsville 500 Queensland Reid Park Street Circuit Townsville, Queensland 10–11 July
8 Sydney SuperNight New South Wales Sydney Motorsport Park Eastern Creek, New South Wales 21–22 August
9 Perth SuperNight Western Australia Wanneroo Raceway Neerabup, Western Australia 11–12 September
10 Bathurst 1000 New South Wales Mount Panorama Circuit Bathurst, New South Wales 10 October
11 Auckland SuperSprint New Zealand TBA New Zealand 6–7 November
12 Gold Coast 500 Queensland Surfers Paradise Street Circuit Surfers Paradise, Queensland 4–5 December
Source:[45][46][47][48][49]

Calendar changes

The Adelaide 500 will not appear on the calendar for the first time since 1998, with the South Australian Tourism Commission withdrawing its financial support citing the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and dwindling attendances as key factors.[50]

Auckland, Gold Coast, Perth, Tasmania, Melbourne and Winton are due to return to the calendar after they were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[51]

The season will commence with a sprint round at Mount Panorama after the Bathurst 12 Hour was cancelled due to the ongoing travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.[52] While the season will end at the Gold Coast, [53] changing from two 300km endurance races to two single driver 250km sprint races to become the Gold Coast 500.

Sandown was dropped from the original calendar, however was reinstated after the Australian Grand Prix was postponed.[53] It is scheduled to host its first sprint round since 2011.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic

A pre-season test day was planned for all teams at Sydney Motorsport Park. With COVID-19 border closures, this was amended with all Queensland based teams and Team Sydney using Queensland Raceway, while the Victorian teams and Brad Jones Racing to use Winton.[54]

The Albert Park round, which was a support category of the Australian Grand Prix, was moved to Sandown Raceway after the Grand Prix was postponed. Whether a Supercars event is held at the rescheduled Grand Prix in November has not been decided.[55]

Series changes

Regulation changes

The championship will award five bonus championship points to the driver who sets the fastest lap. These points will only be awarded in the sprint races.[56]

A third tyre type, the Super Soft, is to be used at the Winton and Darwin events where tyre degradation is much lower than other circuits.[57]

Other changes

Repco, who were already the Supercars’ official automotive parts retailer, will succeed Virgin Australia as the title sponsor of the series until 2025.[58]

Notes

  1. ^ Raced as number 100 at the Mount Panorama 500 for promotional reasons.

References

  1. ^ "CoolDrive Racing Launches New Supercars Team for 2021". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 13 November 2020.
  2. ^ Chapman, Simon (15 January 2021). "Blanchard confirms Bathurst 1000 co-drive plans". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Tickford confirms Holdsworth departure". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  4. ^ O'Brien, Connor (15 February 2021). "Moffat, Premat complete Tickford co-driver roster". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  5. ^ O'Brien, Connor (3 October 2019). "Waters secures future with multi-year deal". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Courtney locked in at Tickford for 2021". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b O'Brien, Connor (27 October 2020). "How the 2021 grid currently stands". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b Mulach, Jordan (15 January 2021). "Reynolds joins Kelly Grove Racing". TouringCarTimes. Mediaempire Group AB. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  9. ^ Chapman, Simon (3 February 2021). "Youlden reunites with Reynolds". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ^ O'Brien, Connor (5 November 2020). "DJR unveils 2021 driver line-up". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Dick Johnson Racing commits to Supercars in 2021". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  12. ^ Gover, Paul (6 November 2020). "Davison Is 17 Again". Race News. Flatout Publishing. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  13. ^ O'Brien, Connor (14 October 2020). "Fullwood wins WAU contract extension". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
  14. ^ Chapman, Simon (2 February 2021). "WAU confirms Enduro Line Up". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. ^ Chapman, Simon (23 February 2020). "CONFIRMED: No Commodore for WAU in 2021". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  16. ^ Chapman, Simon (2 February 2021). "Holdsworth joins WAU". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Jack Smith locked in for BJR return". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  18. ^ Howard, Tom (19 January 2020). "Percat extends BJR contract". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  19. ^ O'Brien, Connor (22 February 2021). "Wood to partner Percat for Bathurst 1000". V8 Supercars. Supercars. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  20. ^ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (12 November 2020). "BJR confirms Hazelwood for 2021". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  21. ^ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (19 November 2020). "Jones to race on under new banner". Supercars Championship. Supercars. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  22. ^ O'Brien, Connor (18 February 2021). "Pither secures 2021 Supercars co-drive". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  23. ^ a b Howard, Tom (11 December 2019). "Brown set to graduate to Supercars in 2021 with Erebus". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  24. ^ Chapman, Simon (19 February 2021). "Erebus recruits veteran co-drivers for Bathurst 1000". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  25. ^ a b "Brodie Kostecki joins Erebus as Reynolds replacement". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 17 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Winterbottom scores new long-term deal". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 16 October 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Team 18 reveals co-driver pairings". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  28. ^ "Fabian Coulthard makes switch to Team SYDNEY". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  29. ^ "Garry Jacobson joins Team SYDNEY". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Matt Stone Racing announces altered line up for 2021". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  31. ^ Howard, Tom (19 January 2020). "Whincup extends Triple Eight Racing contract". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  32. ^ "Craig Lowndes extends Triple Eight Supercars enduros deal to 2021". Autosport. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  33. ^ Chapman, Simon (21 February 2020). "SVG signs multi-year deal with Triple Eight". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  34. ^ O'Brien, Connor (16 January 2021). "One seat left to fill on 2021 Supercars grid". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  35. ^ Sutton, Malcolm (18 February 2020). "Holden vs Ford rivalry delivered a 'death' blow at Supercars Adelaide 500 after Holden exit". abc.net.au. ABC News. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  36. ^ "Triple Eight to bring Camaro to Supercars". Triple Eight Race Engineering. Triple Eight Race Engineering. 14 October 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  37. ^ a b "TEAM PENSKE WILL NOT RETURN TO SUPERCARS IN 2021". Team Penske. 24 October 2020.
  38. ^ Taylor, Aiden (14 January 2021). "Kelly Racing And Grove Group Join Forces To Create Kelly Grove Racing". Kelly Racing.
  39. ^ Chapman, Simon (17 November 2020). "Munday confirms sale of REC to Jones, Mustangs leased to Blanchard". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  40. ^ Herrero, Daniel (7 January 2021). "Tickford confirms Holdsworth departure". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  41. ^ Calendar change casts doubt on McLaughlin’s Bathurst 1000 return Speedcafe 18 December 2020
  42. ^ O'Brien, Connor (5 November 2020). "Erebus confirms De Pasquale departure". Supercars Championship. Supercars.
  43. ^ "Rick Kelly retires from full-time driving". Supercars Championship. Supercars. 26 October 2020.
  44. ^ Matt Stone Racing announces altered line up for 2021 Supercars 18 January 2021
  45. ^ "Northern Territory Government Newsroom". newsroom.nt.gov.au.
  46. ^ "Future of Supercars secured for Queensland". teq.queensland.com.
  47. ^ "2020 Supercars calendar revealed". Supercars.
  48. ^ "Symmons Plains secures new Supercars deal". Supercars.
  49. ^ "Seamer responds to The Bend cancellation criticism". 19 June 2020.
  50. ^ Herrero, Daniel (29 October 2020). "SA Tourism Commission confirms Adelaide 500 axing". Speedcafe.
  51. ^ "Supercars releases revised 13-round 2020/21 calendar". Speedcafe. 17 May 2020.
  52. ^ Supercars to hold 2021 season opener in NSW Speedcafe 19 October 2020
  53. ^ a b Supercars.com (3 December 2020). "Supercars 2021 Calendar Revealed". Supercars Championship.
  54. ^ Supercars tests locked in at QR, Winton Speedcafe 19 January 2021
  55. ^ Pavey, James (12 January 2021). "Sandown confirmed to replace Albert Park in March". Supercars Championship.
  56. ^ https://www.autosport.com/sup/news/154886/supercars-hopes-fastest-lap-points-extend-title-fight
  57. ^ Formats announced for 2021 Repco Supercars Championship Supercars Championship 16 December 2020
  58. ^ Repco signs on as Supercars' naming rights partner Supercars Championship 10 September 2020

External links


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