The Gen3 platform was introduced in 2023 and is essentially a control specification car, with only bodywork and engines differing across manufacturers.
Although Nettlefold isn’t ruling anything out, a 2028 update would likely take the form of a minor refresh rather than fundamental changes.
Supercars undertook a similar process after five years of competition with the Car of the Future platform, which morphed into Gen2 in 2018.
“Everything is on the table at the moment. We are reviewing all aspects of the car for the future car,” Nettlefold told Speedcafe.
“We’re not that far progressed in regards to what it means, it’s just more about the strategic pathway.
“We’re not talking about ’27, we’re talking about ’28, so we’ve got time to get that right.”
Outside of parity complaints, costs have been the biggest issue under Gen3 and likely a key motivator for any changes.
The 2028 timeline for a Gen3 update coincides with the planned introduction of the current Gen3 cars to the Super2 Series.
That would mean any changes requiring teams to purchase new control parts would come with an ability to sell-on excess current stock.
Any updates to the main game package would meanwhile create a distinction between the two series, preventing teams from using the second tier as a direct test bed.
There’s also the prospect of all three incumbent manufacturers having model updates by 2028.
That includes a long-mooted but as yet unannounced new Chevrolet Camaro to replace the model that went out of production in the same year Gen3 hit the track.
Supercars has too put a 2028 timeline on its goal of introducing a fourth marque and expanding off-shore with a proposed international series.
It has investigated producing a batch of cut-price Gen3 cars to race offshore to be cheaper and more attractive to international drivers.
“We know the performance of the car at the moment is amazing and we’ve got the closest racing in the world as we speak,” Nettlefold said.
“We recognise that, but we also recognise that, in an ideal world, in an international strategy, do we need to have such a complicated car?
“Can we take some components out of it to make it more efficient, which doesn’t discount the quality of our racing?
“They are the discussions that we are having.”
Mooted changes to Gen3 have included replacing the long-standing spool rear-end in favour of a more conventional differential.
This has been championed by Roland Dane and Paul Morris, who believe it would improve racing and open the category up to international drivers.
NASCAR took significant inspiration from Supercars for its current generation cars, but opted against the locked rear-end.
“If we look at our strategy, what are we trying to achieve?” mused Nettlefold.
“Are we trying to get international drivers on our grid? Are we trying to be more aligned with other OEMs or other touring cars programs that are out there?
“Well, we need to consider everything that’s inside our car.”
The Supercars Championship continues this weekend with the Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley.
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