Supercars CEO Sean Seamer has explained the thought process behind awarding fastest lap bonus points.

An update to the Operations Manual has revealed the category will award up to 120 additional points in 2021 courtesy of the new rule.

Sprint events will be bumped up from a maximum of 300 points to 315 points.

Speaking with select media including Speedcafe.com, Seamer said the new rule was designed to add more variability to the championship.

“It’s something that the Commission discussed last year,” said Seamer.

“It was an initiative to extend the championship, so for drivers to be able to accumulate more points and then hopefully extend the decision on who the champion is.

“So the reason for introducing it was a test and it will be interesting to see how that plays out through the course of the year.”

Eight of 12 sprint events this year will see bonus points awarded.

Super500 events at Mount Panorama, Townsville, and Surfers Paradise, as well as the Bathurst 1000 will not offer bonus points.

This year marks the first in Supercars history that bonus points for fastest laps will be awarded.