2022 Supercars Championship
The 2022 Supercars Championship (known for commercial reasons as the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship) was a motor racing series for Supercars. It was the twenty-fourth running of the Supercars Championship and the twenty-sixth series in which Supercars have contested the Australian Touring Car Championship, the premier title in Australian motorsport.
Shane van Gisbergen successfully defended the Drivers' Championship, claiming his third title. In a display of dominance throughout the season, he broke the record for the most wins in a single season with 21 wins, eclipsing Scott McLaughlin's record of 18 wins in 2019. Triple Eight Race Engineering successfully defended the Teams' Championship. Holden won its final Manufacturers' Championship at The Bend SuperSprint.[1][2][3]
Teams and drivers
The following teams and drivers competed in the 2022 championship.
Team changes
The field expanded from 24 to 25 cars after Supercars management sold a dormant Teams Racing Charter (TRC) to Tickford Racing.[52] The TRC will be used to run the #56 entry for Jake Kostecki.[10]
The Grove Group took full ownership of Kelly Grove Racing, re-naming the team to Grove Racing.[53]
Peter Xiberras, managing director of PremiAir Hire, purchased Team Sydney and renamed it PremiAir Racing.[32]
Driver changes
Jamie Whincup retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2021 season and replaced Roland Dane as team principal and managing director of Triple Eight Race Engineering.[54] 2021 Super2 Series champion Broc Feeney graduated to replace Whincup.[41] Whincup returned as a endurance co-driver alongside Feeney.[42]
Thomas Randle moved up to the series full time with Tickford Racing, having raced as a wildcard in several events for the team in both 2019 and 2021.[9]
Jake Kostecki and Zane Goddard left Matt Stone Racing, with Kostecki replacing Jack Le Brocq at Tickford Racing. Le Brocq joined Matt Stone Racing in a straight driver swap.[10][55][37] Todd Hazelwood also returned to the team, having last raced for them in 2019.[39] Zane Goddard was unable to raise sufficient sponsorship to compete full-time in 2022.[56] He returned as an endurance co-driver for Tickford Racing.[57]
Bryce Fullwood left Walkinshaw Andretti United to replace Hazelwood at Brad Jones Racing, with Fullwood's seat filled by Nick Percat, who returned to Walkinshaw, a team he last raced for in 2014 under James Rosenberg Racing.[22][15]
Andre Heimgartner left Grove Racing to replace Nick Percat at Brad Jones Racing. He was replaced by Lee Holdsworth.[58][59][20][11]
Chris Pither returned to the championship, replacing Fabian Coulthard who was dropped from the PremiAir Racing driver line-up.[33] Coulthard joined Walkinshaw Andretti United as an endurance co-driver.[60]
Mid Season changes
Garry Jacobson left PremiAir Racing after the Darwin Triple Crown round and was replaced by James Golding, who last raced full time in 2019.[61][35]
Calendar
Thirteen circuits hosted a round of the 2022 championship.
Calendar changes
Albert Park, Auckland, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Perth and Winton returned after absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Adelaide 500 returned to the calendar after being cancelled in 2021 following the result of the 2022 South Australian state election.[62]
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic
The Newcastle 500 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Omicron outbreak in New South Wales. Sydney Motorsport Park hosted the opening round of the championship, as Sydney SuperNight.[63][64]
Series changes
Rule changes
The red flag rule during qualifying was amended. Previously if a driver caused a red flag in the session, their fastest time was deleted and they were ruled out for the remainder of the session. Now if a driver causes a red flag and is able to bring the car back to the pits, their fastest lap gets deleted, but they are now able to resume being a part of the session. This comes after Cameron Waters brought out the red flag at the second Sydney Motorsport Park round in 2021 and was able to return to the pits under his own power.[65]
Results
Season summary
Points system
Points were awarded for each race at an event, to the driver or drivers of a car that completed at least 75% of the race distance and was running at the completion of the race. At least 50% of the planned race distance must be completed for the result to be valid and championship points awarded. No extra points were awarded if the fastest lap time is achieved by a driver who was classified outside the top fifteen.[66]
Points format | Position | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th | 21st | 22nd | 23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | FL | |
Bathurst | 300 | 276 | 258 | 240 | 222 | 204 | 192 | 180 | 168 | 156 | 144 | 138 | 132 | 126 | 120 | 114 | 108 | 102 | 96 | 90 | 84 | 78 | 72 | 66 | 60 | 54 | 48 | 42 | |
Two-race | 150 | 138 | 129 | 120 | 111 | 102 | 96 | 90 | 84 | 78 | 72 | 69 | 66 | 63 | 60 | 57 | 54 | 51 | 48 | 45 | 42 | 39 | 36 | 33 | 30 | ||||
SuperSprint | 100 | 92 | 86 | 80 | 74 | 68 | 64 | 60 | 56 | 52 | 48 | 46 | 44 | 42 | 40 | 38 | 36 | 34 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 26 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 5 | |
Melbourne | 75 | 69 | 64 | 60 | 55 | 51 | 48 | 45 | 42 | 39 | 36 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 |
- Bathurst: Used for the Bathurst 1000.
- Two-race: Used for the Sydney SuperNight, Townsville 500, Gold Coast 500 and Adelaide 500.
- SuperSprint: Used for all SuperSprint races, the Perth SuperNight and Darwin Triple Crown.
- Melbourne: Used for the Melbourne 400.
Drivers' Championship
|
|
Teams' Championship
|
|
Notes
- For point-scoring purposes, Tickford Racing was recognised as two separate entities: "Monster Energy Racing & Snowy River Caravans" which is made up of cars #5 & #6; and "Castrol Racing & Tradie Racing" which consists of cars #55 & #56.
- For point-scoring purposes, Brad Jones Racing was recognised as two separate entities: "Brad Jones Racing" which is made up of cars #8 & #14; and "SCT Logistics & Drillpro Racing" which consists of cars #4 & #96.
References
- Pavey, James (31 July 2022). "Holden clinches 2022 manufacturers' title". Supercars.
- Pavey, James (29 October 2022). "Van Gisbergen clinches title with Race 31 win". Supercars.
- Herrero, Daniel (30 October 2022). "Van Gisbergen dominates Race 32, T8 wins Supercars teams' championship". Speedcafe.
- All the moves: 2022 Supercars grid finalised Supercars Championship 20 January 2022
- Just seven co-drives left to fill for Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe.com 19 May 2022
- Courtney signs multi year deal with Tickford Speedcafe.com 7 October 2021
- Tickford locks in Bathurst 1000 driver pairings Speedcafe.com 24 June 2022
- Pavey, James (25 October 2021). "Tickford confirms new multi-year Waters deal". Supercars Championship.
- Randle confirmed for 2022 full-time Supercars seat Speedcafe.com 18 June 2021
- "Tickford signs young gun Jake Kostecki from 2022". Tickford Racing. 11 October 2021.
- Bullis, Charlie (17 December 2021). "Grove Racing confirms Holdsworth for 2022 Full Time Drive". Supercars.com.
- Revised Bathurst 1000 driver pairings for Grove Speedcafe.com 17 August 2022
- DJR confirms 2022 Driver Lineup Speedcafe.com 12 August 2021
- Pavey, James (13 May 2022). "DJR retains D'Alberto, Davison for Bathurst". Supercars.
- Pavey, James (26 October 2021). "WAU confirms Percat on multi-year deal". Supercars.
- WAU confirms Bathurst 1000 driver pairings Speedcafe.com 29 July 2022
- Mostert inks long-term WAU extension Speedcafe 15 June 2021
- Smith confirms 2022 plans with BJR Supercars 25 November 2021
- Evans confirmed for Bathurst 1000 debut Speedcafe.com 19 September 2022
- Pavey, James (13 September 2021). "Heimgartner to join BJR in 2022". Supercars Championship.
- Wood to partner Heimgartner in Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe.com 14 March 2022
- Pavey, James (26 October 2021). "Fullwood to join BJR in 2022". Supercars Championship.
- Chapman, Simon (16 March 2022). "Fiore to partner Fullwood at Bathurst". Speedcafe.com.
- Jones confirmed at BJR for 2022 Speedcafe.com 24 November 2021
- O'Brien, Connor (14 March 2022). "Boys to partner Jones for Bathurst". Speedcafe.com.
- Erebus expansion no longer on the cards Speedcafe.com 11 April 2021
- Chapman, Simon (11 February 2022). "Erebus confirms Enduro Lineup". Speedcafe.com.
- Frosty signs for two more years Auto Action 16 October 2020
- "TEAM 18 STATEMENT ON BATHURST CO-DRIVER PLANS". Team 18. 5 July 2022.
- Team 18 confirms Pye contract extension Supercars 22 September 2021
- Pavey, James (17 July 2022). "Everingham scores Team 18 co-drive". Supercars.
- O'Brien, Connor (13 January 2022). "Team Sydney sold. Renamed PremiAir Racing". Speedcafe.com.
- O'Brien, Connor (20 January 2022). "PremiAir Racing confirms driver line-up". Speedcafe.com.
- PremiAir signs Hill for Bathurst 1000 Speedcafe 5 August 2022
- O'Brian, Connor (5 July 2022). "Golding lands seven-round PremiAir Racing deal". Speedcafe.
- Pavey, James (8 August 2022). "PremiAir Racing completes Bathurst line-up". Supercars.
- Pavey, James (27 October 2021). "Le Brocq signs multi-year Matt Stone Racing deal". Supercars.
- Bartholomaeus, Steven (4 July 2022). "Aaron Seton scores Bathurst 1000 drive". V8Sleuth.
- Pavey, James (20 October 2021). "Matt Stone Racing confirms Hazelwood reunion". Supercars.
- Ojeda to co-drive with Hazelwood at Bathurst Speedcafe.com 9 August 2022
- Feeney confirmed as Whincup replacement at Triple Eight Supercars 31 August 2021
- Pavey, James (5 June 2022). "Triple Eight confirms Bathurst Enduro Lineup". Supercars Championship.
- Chapman, Simon (21 February 2020). "SVG signs multi-year deal with Triple Eight". Speedcafe. Speedcafe. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
- Herrero, Daniel (22 April 2022). "Tickford to run Supercars wildcard programme for Best". Speedcafe.com.
- Pavey, James (10 May 2022). "WAU confirms Ojeda Wildcard". Supercars Championship.
- O'Brien, Connor (4 May 2022). "Boys confirmed for Supercars solo debut". Speedcafe.com.
- Pavey, James (30 April 2022). "Erebus Motorsport confirms all Kiwi Bathurst Wildcard". Supercars Championship.
- Matt Chahda Motorsport enters Bathurst 1000 as wildcard Speedcafe.com 1 July 2022
- Chahda, Robotham to pair up for Bathurst 1000 wildcard Speedcafe.com 27 July 2022
- Supercheap Auto to reveal Bathurst 1000 wildcard drivers Speedcafe.com 1 June 2022
- Triple Eight confirms Lowndes/Fraser wildcard Speedcafe.com 5 June 2022
- Tickford secures fourth REC Auto Action 18 June 2021
- Grove takes full ownership of KGR, Kelly to depart Speedcafe 26 July 2021
- Whincup to retire, take over as Triple Eight boss Speedcafe 3 February 2021
- Pavey, James (15 October 2021). "Goddard confirms Matt Stone Racing exit". Supercars Championship.
- O'Brian, Connor (21 December 2021). "2022 plans still up in the air for Goddard". Speedcafe.
- Chapman, Simon (28 February 2022). "Tickford Racing confirms Goddard for Bathurst". Speedcafe.com.
- What Heimgartner move means for 2022 Supercars driver market Speedcafe.com 7 September 2021
- Dale, Will (13 September 2021). "Nick Percat splits with Brad Jones Racing". V8 Sleuth.
- Chapman, Simon (22 February 2022). "WAU confirms Coulthard, Luff for Bathurst 1000". Speedcafe.com.
- Pavey, James (21 June 2022). "PremiAir Racing confirms Jacobson exit". Supercars.
- Adelaide 500’s long-term future formally sealed
- Pavey, James (24 January 2022). "Repco Newcastle 500 postponed". Supercars.
- Supercars announces tentative date for 2023 season-opener Speedcafe 15 July 2022
- Pavey, James (31 January 2022). "Red flag qualifying rule tweaked". Supercars.
- Supercars tightens up fastest lap bonus points Speedcafe 31 January 2022
- WAU fined, docked teams’ championship points for breach Speedcafe.com 8 April 2022
- Penalty for Hazelwood over unusual breach Speedcafe.com 29 October 2022
- MSR fined over frightening pit lane incident Speedcafe.com 4 December 2022
- Tickford penalised for Kostecki pit lane incident Speedcafe.com 10 September 2022