• Login
  • Register
Speedcafe.com
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • SUPERCARS
  • F1
  • MOTOGP
  • NASCAR
  • INDYCAR
  • GT & ENDURANCE
  • KARTING
  • RALLY
  • JOBS
  • HOME
  • NEWS
  • PODS
  • PHOTOS
  • RESULTS
  • NETWORK 100
No Result
View All Result
  • Feed
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Photos
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
Speedcafe.com
  • Supercars
  • F1
  • NASCAR
  • IndyCar
  • GT & Endurance
  • Karting
  • Bikes
  • Rally
Home Supercars

Supercars to rethink wet race rules

Daniel Herrero
Daniel Herrero
6 Apr 2023
Daniel Herrero
//
6 Apr 2023
// Supercars
A A
0
Supercars to rethink wet race rules

Pit stops came into focus at Albert Park when wet weather declarations opened a tyre loophole. Picture: Ross Gibb Photography

Pit stops came into focus at Albert Park when wet weather declarations opened a tyre loophole. Picture: Ross Gibb Photography

Supercars will rethink the controversial wet-weather tyre rules, looking to close the loophole that allowed teams to ignore the mixed compound requirement at Albert Park.

The four sprint races at the Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix were scheduled as compulsory changes between the hard and super soft rubber.

But amid pre-race drizzle, the Thursday and Friday races were declared ‘wet’, allowing any tyre choice and changing the compulsory pit stop requirement.

Several teams, led by Triple Eight Race Engineering and Erebus Motorsport, took advantage of the ambiguity, changing just two tyres – still super-softs – in their CPS instead of all four.

As the rules stand, for any any race declared ‘wet’ before the start, no matter the subsequent conditions, teams can vary their tyre use from the intended format at will.

Advertisements

The confusion at Albert Park is unlikely to happen this year as there are no more events mixing hard and super soft tyres.

Job opportunity: AIS Sports Engineering Click here to apply

For the rest of the series, only soft and super soft rubber will be used, even at the Bathurst 1000.

But in the future, Supercars Head of Motorsport Adrian Burgess agreed that wet tyre race allowances needed to be more controlled.

“We’ll review it,” he told Speedcafe. “I think we need to.”

Mark Dutton, Team Manager at Triple Eight, is not so sure that the rules need to be tightened.

Shane van Gisbergen drives down pit lane after his stop. Picture: Ross Gibb Photography

Triple Eight Race Engineering was among the teams to spot the loophole. Picture: Ross Gibb Photography

“It’s a tough one and I try not to be biased but it’s worked for us, and it brings in variability,” he told Speedcafe.

“What do we always talk about? We want some variability in racing, and it’s really hard to do.

“I don’t know if it’s necessarily something that needs to be changed for the future. It can quite easily be changed in the rulebook to warrant that, but I like the variability.

“We started on super softs so if it didn’t happen to be declared, then we had to change all four; doesn’t actually hurt you. It’s still the best strategy unless there’s a Safety Car, then it’s not the best strategy.

“It’s not a clear-cut being declared wet necessarily makes or breaks your race; there are other factors that go into it.

“So, that’s where the complication and the risk and the decision all the teams have to make brings in that variability, so that’s what I think is a good thing.”

Technical staff will make a submission to the rule-advising Supercars Commission, which is next due to meet on April 13.

Any changes will then go to the Supercars board for approval and implementation.

The wholesale exploitation of the mixed tyre rules at Albert Park, despite being legal, defies the intention of the regulation.

It was always meant to give teams options in extreme weather, not to exploit in marginal conditions.

In the wake of the Albert Park aberration, Supercars is set to more clearly define wet races and tyre management.



Speedcafe Network 100 - logo representing the directory of leading suppliers to the motorsport industry in Australia

List your business today!

Btuned logo: specialists in servicing, repairs, upgrades and diagnostics for European vehicles. We are located in North Lakes at our purpose-built premises.

Btuned Euro Specialist

Automotive & Performance

Btuned is a premier European vehicle specialist based in North Lakes, Queensland, servicing clients across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. With over 45 years of combined hands-on experience—including decades of factory training with brands like BMW, MINI,...

Btuned is a premier European vehicle specialist based in North Lakes, Queensland, servicing clients across Australia’s Eastern Seaboard. With over 45 years of combined hands-on...

Discussion about this post

[postcode_search_form]

Latest from Torquecafe

Chinese brands continue to conquer Aussie hill

14 March 2026

Honda to lose more than $22 billion after cancelling EVs

13 March 2026

Latest Podcasts

PODCAST: Supercars parity trigger + Newcastle 500 snub

13 March 2026

PODCAST: Grassroots Racing #79 with Rohan Carrig

13 March 2026

Related Articles

Craig Lowndes with his Supercheap Auto Racing Chevrolet Silverado ZR2.

Craig Lowndes confirms Finke return with Chevrolet

Supercars
51 seconds ago
Supercars
0

PODCAST: Supercars parity trigger + Newcastle 500 snub

Podcasts
14 hours ago
Podcasts
0
ADVERTISEMENT

Platinum Partners

Latest & Trending News

Craig Lowndes with his Supercheap Auto Racing Chevrolet Silverado ZR2.

Craig Lowndes confirms Finke return with Chevrolet

Supercars
14 March 2026
Supercars
0
The Chinese Grand Prix will see round 2 of the 2026 F1 season. Image: XPB Images

2026 F1 Chinese Grand Prix – Schedule, how to watch, TV times & more

F1
14 March 2026
F1
0
Flavio Briatore confirmed Mercedes have shown an interest in buying a stake of the Alpine team. Image: XPB Images

Briatore confirms Mercedes interest in Alpine stake

F1
14 March 2026
F1
0
Audi confirmed that a man arrested outside their hospitality area in Australia had no connection to them. Image: XPB Images

F1 team responds after man in team gear arrested at Australian GP

F1
14 March 2026
F1
0
Kimi Antonelli will keep his second place for the Chinese GP Sprint. Image: XPB Images

Antonelli keeps Chinese GP Sprint front row after investigation

F1
13 March 2026
F1
0
Liam Lawson qualified 13th for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint. Image: XPB Images

Lawson hopeful despite Shanghai struggles

F1
13 March 2026
F1
0

Supercheap Auto

Pirtek Poll

POLL: Has Formula 1 got its new regulations right?

Vote View Results Past polls
Pirtek Poll
View past polls
2026 Supercars Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
Brodie Kostecki
Shell V-Power Racing Team
17 3 1 485
2
Cam Waters
Monster Castrol Racing
6 0 0 457
3
Broc Feeney
Red Bull Ampol Racing
88 3 2 442
4
Matthew Payne
Penrite Racing
19 0 0 412
5
Anton De Pasquale
DEWALT Racing
18 1 1 354
2026 Formula 1 Championship WINS POLES PTS
1
George Russell
Mercedes
63 1 1 25
2
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
12 0 0 18
3
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
16 0 0 15
4
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
44 0 0 12
5
Lando Norris
McLaren
1 0 0 10
ADVERTISEMENT
[instagram-feed feed=2]
Support the partners that support Speedcafe
Truck Assist R & J Batteries Pirtek Mobil Super Supercheap Auto Michelin Meguiars coates KTM FORD ACDelco parcelprotect become a partner
AASA PPQ Authentic Collectables sportsnetholidays nuevasolutions bathurst
Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.
Speedcafe.com has been established to provide a daily motorsport news service to the industry and fans in Australia and internationally.
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

ACDELCO

Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily newsletter, the best way to get your news first, fast and free!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

Your daily racing fix - Newsletter

Subscribe to our daily and breaking newsletter for all the latest news delivered direct to your box

SUBSCRIBE
Follow Us

Categories

SUPERCARS

F1

NASCAR

INDYCAR

GT

MOTOGP

PHOTOS

TV

PODS

Platinum Partners

TRUCK ASSIST
R&J BATTERIES
PIRTEK
MOBIL1
SUPERCHEAP AUTO

PARCEL PROTECT

MICHELIN
MEGUIARS

COATES
FORD

XPEL

ACDELCO

Green and white "speedcafe." logo on a black background, conveying a racing theme.

Copyright © 2026 Speedcafe.com. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Our Team /  Advertise with us / Comments Policy / Privacy Policy /

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Event guides
  • Podcasts
  • Shop
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Network 100

Copyright © 2025 Speedcafe.com This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. The Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox!

[mailpoet_form id=”28″]