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Superlicence system introduced to Supercars

Drivers will need to qualify for a ‘CAMS Superlicence’ to race in Supercars from 2017, it has been confirmed.

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Chris Pither, Richie Stanaway, Super Black Racing Ford and Rick Kelly, Russell Ingall, Nissan Motorsports crash

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The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport today revealed that a system similar to that used by the FIA for Formula 1 will be introduced to Supercars for next season.

Current Supercars drivers won’t need to meet the criteria, but drivers coming into Australia’s premier category will have to accumulate the 13 necessary points from state and national racing before being issued a Superlicence.

Supercars drivers are currently only required to have an International Circuit C Racing Licence.

To cover off Supercars endurance co-drivers, a Supercars Superlicence will also be issued to drivers who have competed in at least three Supercars events over the last five years, or hold a Gold FIA driver rating or higher.

There is also an age restriction of 17 on the Superlicence. No Superlicence will be required for the second-tier Dunlop Series, which uses identical cars to Supercars, but an age limit of 16 has been set.

“Given that Supercars were recently included in the FIA Superlicence structure by the World Motor Sport Council, it was appropriate for CAMS to follow suit and implement a similar structure locally,” CAMS general manager of motorsport Michael Smith said.

“Locally, CAMS has observed an increase in the number of young and inexperienced drivers racing powerful machinery in advanced categories of motorsport.

“Along with Supercars, we have raised concerns of a heightened level of risk. The CAMS Superlicence is intended to maintain the highest safety and driving standards across our sport.

“We have seen a similar case in Formula 1 where a driver is now required to have accumulated a number of FIA Superlicence points in junior categories and be over the age of 18 to be eligible to race.”

One major flaw in the proposed system is the weight given to the struggling Australian Formula 4 Championship. Despite being unable to regularly get more than 10 cars on a grid, the winner earns 12 Superlicence points.

The Australian Formula Ford Series, viewed internally at CAMS as a key competitor to its self-owned and run Formula 4 series, doesn’t rate a mention on the table, despite having had more than 20 cars at most rounds so far this season. State Formula Ford has been given just five Superlicence points for the winner.

Superlicence Structure

Category 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th
Supercars 13 11 9 6 4 3 2 1 0 0
Dunlop Series 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
GT Endurance 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
GT 12 10 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Formula 4 12 10 7 5 3 2 1 0 0 0
Carrera Cup  12 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Toyota Racing Series 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
NZ Touring Cars 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Formula Ford (State) 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Formula Ford (NZ) 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Production Cars 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
V8 Touring Cars  5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0
Touring Car Masters 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Aussie Racing Cars 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
GT3 Cup Challenge 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
GT Trophy 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Radicals/Sports Racers 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Sports Sedans 5 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Formula 3 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Karting (KZ2, KA1) 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

 

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