For the second time in three years, Jamie Whincup has wrapped up the V8 Supercars Championship ahead of the Sydney Olympic Park season finale.
The Triple Eight Holden driver’s early success at Phillip Island coincidentally fell on the same weekend that NASCAR concluded its most aggressive Chase system ever.
While V8 Supercars continues to follow the traditional method of awarding the championship to the driver who scores the most points over the whole season, NASCAR first adopted its Chase ‘playoff’ format in 2004.
Designed as a quasi ‘final series’, the early years of the Chase saw the points for the top 10 drivers reset ahead of the final 10 races, ensuring a tighter battle over the final events.
Following a succession of relatively minor tweaks, this season saw NASCAR eliminate contenders over a number of rounds before a ‘first across the line’ battle between the final four at the last race.
Although further upsetting traditionalists, the move created unprecedented drama over the championship’s final weeks, providing a television ratings boost in the process.
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V8 Supercars chiefs continue to show little sign of interest in a post-season, but the thought of setting the play-off field after the Castrol Edge Gold Coast 600 sits as an interesting prospect.
Another alternative to help the chances of a thrilling finale would be to give Sydney a greater points weighting than other events.
Formula 1 will award double points at its season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend; a move that has proven largely unpopular with teams and fans alike.
Although the race is yet to be run, the double points rule has arguably already served its purpose, with Lewis Hamilton’s current 24 point lead over Nico Rosberg a far less comfortable margin than if only the regular 25 points were available in the UAE.
What do you think? Should V8 Supercars introduce a Chase? Or double points? Or remain as it is?
Cast your vote on this week’s Pirtek Poll below.
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