The Dunlop Super2 Series (formerly known as Dunlop Series , Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series , HPDC V8 Supercars Series , Konica Minolta V8 Supercars Series and Konica V8 Supercars/Lites Series ) is an Australian touring car racing competition, specifically the second tier series for Supercars competitors. Competing vehicles are older than those utilised in the Supercars Championship series and are usually run by smaller teams with lower budgets.
34-533: The vast majority of drivers in the Supercars Championship have raced at least one season in the Super2 championship. For parts of its history, competing in Super2 was required for most drivers to qualify for a Motorsport Australia Superlicence , which is required to compete in the Supercars Championship, or was enforced as a separate requirement by the Supercars Championship organisers. The series
68-416: A Motorsport Australia Superlicence , which is required to compete in the Supercars Championship, or was enforced as a separate requirement by the Supercars Championship organisers. The series was first held in 2000 as the 2000 Konica V8 Lites Series and this inaugural contest was won by Dean Canto . Towards the end of the season Stone Brothers Racing entered a car for David Besnard as preparation for
102-723: A Superlicence. The 2025 points table list includes most national-level circuit racing series (as well as state-based Formula Ford series) sanctioned by Motorsport Australia. It does not include series sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance , most notably the TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series . (Toyota Racing Series) (NZ) The Superlicence, then known as the CAMS Superlicense, was first introduced in October 2016 for
136-417: A dispensation for Herne to drive in the 2020 Bathurst 1000 . The global COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted motorsport across Australia; many categories missed much of the season, and where events did run drivers were often unable to attend events due to travel restrictions. Motorsport Australia confirmed that drivers whose seasons were interrupted would be considered on a case by case basis, and announced
170-517: A higher points allocation, and the Supercars Championship management seeking additional revisions. Experienced driver and team manager Paul Morris stated that the points table "...doesn't make sense". Driver Nathan Herne , who placed fifth in the TA2 Racing Muscle Car Series (sanctioned by the Australian Auto Sport Alliance and thus not on the points table), was denied a dispensation after Garry Rogers Motorsport applied for
204-411: A professional career in the Supercars Championship, the rules also impact category organisers, as it affects the attractiveness of various series to drivers, and therefore the number of entries and ultimately the viability of different race series. The Superlicence system was first introduced in 2017, and was abolished in mid-2023, only for a revised version to be reintroduced in early 2024. At times,
238-531: A review of the points allocation system, in October 2020. as Formula Regional Oceania Championship ) In 2021, a major change was made to the Superlicence system, where drivers without previous Supercars experience, or holding a Gold FIA licence, were additionally required to have competed in six rounds of the Super2 Series , or seek dispensation. In March 2022, further changes were made to
272-466: A rule that competing in a minimum of six rounds of the Super2 Series was required to be permitted to race in the Supercars Championship as Formula Regional Oceania Championship ) In July 2023, Motorsport Australia cancelled the Superlicence system. The Supercars Championship amended its requirements for drivers, such that a driver who placed in the top three in either the Super3 Series or
306-471: A top car". While much lower than the Supercars Championship, it is much higher than many other Australian racing series such as the Trico Trans-Am Series , TCR Australia Touring Car Series , and the now-defunct S5000 Australian Drivers Championship . Motorsport Australia Superlicence The Motorsport Australia Superlicence is a racing license awarded by Motorsport Australia . It
340-462: A total of 15 points based on their season placing in other Australian or New Zealand circuit racing championships in the previous three years, according to a points table (displayed below). Alternatively, drivers can either have: Under these rules, existing full-time Supercars drivers, and co-drivers who compete in the two endurance rounds of the Supercars Championship (usually the Sandown 500 and
374-480: Is referred to in many conversations, even though there has never been a Development Series race because a naming rights sponsor was found before the start of the 2005 season. Started during the 2016 year season of the Dunlop Super2 Series (Named as Supercars Dunlop Series) Car of The Future later known as New Generation V8 Supercar specification cars were eligible in the series. In the 2021 season of
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#1732798252517408-468: Is required for all drivers in the Supercars Championship , the highest-profile domestic circuit racing series in Australia. The licence is usually granted on the basis of success in other Australian and New Zealand-based circuit racing series. The existence of the Superlicence, and the eligibility rules, have been controversial and subject to several revisions. As well as affecting drivers' chances at
442-548: The Bathurst 1000 , can retain a Superlicence while they continue to compete and for several years afterwards. Drivers who have raced internationally can accumulate the 15 required points under the FIA Super Licence system; international applications will be reviewed by a licensing board appointed by Motorsport Australia. The following table lists the points awarded for Australian/NZ series placings for awarding of
476-519: The Porsche Carrera Cup Australia would in the previous three years would only require three rounds in the Super2 Series , rather than six . Super2 Series The Dunlop Super2 Series (formerly known as Dunlop Series , Fujitsu V8 Supercars Series , HPDC V8 Supercars Series , Konica Minolta V8 Supercars Series and Konica V8 Supercars/Lites Series ) is an Australian touring car racing competition, specifically
510-569: The Tony D'Alberto Racing team, and like many of his predecessors, graduated to the V8 Supercar series in 2008, again with the family team. From 2009 onward all Super2 Series have run on the Supercars calendar. This series carries the colloquial title of 'Development Series' which was the name given to the series by V8 Supercar Australia between the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The colloquial title
544-432: The 2017 Supercars Championship season, at least in part in response to concerns about an inexperienced substitute driver In addition to a minimum age of 17 and a FIA Circuit C licence, drivers were either required to hold a Gold FIA rating, have competed in at least three Supercars events over the past five years, or to accumulate 13 points in the previous five years (so the 2012 through 2016 seasons) by season placings in
578-533: The Saturday and one on the Sunday of the race weekend. There is a separate qualifying session for each race. Championship points for each race result are awarded on a sliding scale, with each race result given equal weighting (unlike in the Supercars Championship, where longer races are awarded more points). One 2023 estimate puts the cost of competing in the Super2 series for a season at "up to A$ 600,000...for
612-422: The Saturday and one on the Sunday of the race weekend. There is a separate qualifying session for each race. Championship points for each race result are awarded on a sliding scale, with each race result given equal weighting (unlike in the Supercars Championship, where longer races are awarded more points). One 2023 estimate puts the cost of competing in the Super2 series for a season at "up to A$ 600,000...for
646-540: The Super2 Series class. Car of The Future also known as New Generation V8 Supercar specification built cars were sold & sent down to teams in the Super3 Series class of the Dunlop Super2 & Super3 Series. The Super2 series runs at a subset of Supercars Championship rounds (for instance in 2025, there will be six Super2 rounds). During each round, there are two races of 40 minutes duration, one on
680-413: The Super2 Series class. Car of The Future also known as New Generation V8 Supercar specification built cars were sold & sent down to teams in the Super3 Series class of the Dunlop Super2 & Super3 Series. The Super2 series runs at a subset of Supercars Championship rounds (for instance in 2025, there will be six Super2 rounds). During each round, there are two races of 40 minutes duration, one on
714-498: The Supercars Championship has imposed additional requirements for drivers, notably that they have competed in the Super2 Series for a specified number of rounds. For the 2025 season, teams in the Supercars Championship apply for a Superlicence on behalf of prospective drivers. To qualify, drivers must be over the age of 17 and hold a FIA International Grade C Circuit Licence (or higher). Furthermore, drivers who have raced within Australia and New Zealand need to have been awarded
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#1732798252517748-408: The Superlicence system. The requirement to have completed in the Super2 series was removed. Applications for Superlicences were now to be made by Supercars teams rather than by drivers, and the points table was substantially adjusted, increasing points allocations for a number of series, theoretically making them a viable pathway to qualifying for the licence. The Supercars Championship itself imposed
782-538: The colloquial title of 'Development Series' which was the name given to the series by V8 Supercar Australia between the 2004 and 2005 seasons. The colloquial title is referred to in many conversations, even though there has never been a Development Series race because a naming rights sponsor was found before the start of the 2005 season. Started during the 2016 year season of the Dunlop Super2 Series (Named as Supercars Dunlop Series) Car of The Future later known as New Generation V8 Supercar specification cars were eligible in
816-511: The following racing series: The organisers of the Australian Formula Ford Series and Australian Formula 3 criticised the system. The national Formula Ford Series was completely omitted from the Superlicence points, and Formula 3 received a lower points allocation than, for instance, Formula four. The two series organised argued that their series were effective training grounds for professional motorsport, and that
850-607: The long distance races, in the main V8 Supercar series, the Queensland 500 and the Bathurst 1000 , which unlike the other races require two drivers for each competing vehicle. Since then main series teams have used the series to help get their endurance co-drivers up-to-speed, or have employed drivers competing for other Fujitsu Series teams. While originally Fujitsu Series teams were allowed to enter main series events, this has since been discontinued as all main series events are limited to those teams carrying valid franchise slots for
884-413: The main series, although in limited circumstances Fujitsu series teams have been able to lease entries from main series teams. The 2007 champion, Tony D'Alberto , drove for the Tony D'Alberto Racing team, and like many of his predecessors, graduated to the V8 Supercar series in 2008, again with the family team. From 2009 onward all Super2 Series have run on the Supercars calendar. This series carries
918-400: The points allocation did not reflect the training value of their categories. The CEO of the Supercars Championship also criticised the system after driver Matt Chadha was denied a dispensation to race in Supercars, saying the system was necessary but the points table was "wrong" and "way heavily skewed with self interest in regards to Formula 4". In 2018, an additional eligibility criterion
952-407: The second tier series for Supercars competitors. Competing vehicles are older than those utilised in the Supercars Championship series and are usually run by smaller teams with lower budgets. The vast majority of drivers in the Supercars Championship have raced at least one season in the Super2 championship. For parts of its history, competing in Super2 was required for most drivers to qualify for
986-507: The series to help get their endurance co-drivers up-to-speed, or have employed drivers competing for other Fujitsu Series teams. While originally Fujitsu Series teams were allowed to enter main series events, this has since been discontinued as all main series events are limited to those teams carrying valid franchise slots for the main series, although in limited circumstances Fujitsu series teams have been able to lease entries from main series teams. The 2007 champion, Tony D'Alberto , drove for
1020-523: The series, The Kumho Tyre V8 Touring Car Series (Later named as Kumho Tyre Super3 Series in 2019 before being named as Dunlop Super3 Series) joined alongside the Dunlop Super2 Series category for the first time as a class racing on track at the same time. Started in the year 2023 season of the Dunlop Super2 & Super3 Series only the Gen2 Specification built cars ( Holden Commodore ZB & Ford Mustang GT (S550) ) were to become eligible in
1054-490: The series. In the 2021 season of the series, The Kumho Tyre V8 Touring Car Series (Later named as Kumho Tyre Super3 Series in 2019 before being named as Dunlop Super3 Series) joined alongside the Dunlop Super2 Series category for the first time as a class racing on track at the same time. Started in the year 2023 season of the Dunlop Super2 & Super3 Series only the Gen2 Specification built cars ( Holden Commodore ZB & Ford Mustang GT (S550) ) were to become eligible in
Super2 Series - Misplaced Pages Continue
1088-567: The top six places was won by an existing super licence holder, this was extended to the top eight finishers. Two additional racing categories were added to the points table: the TCR Australia Touring Car Series , and the S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship . The points allocation continued to be a topic of discussion, with the S5000 Australian Drivers' Chamipionship organisers seeking
1122-561: Was added, so that any driver who finished in the top six of the Super2 Series was eligible for a Superlicence. Furthermore, the V8 Touring Car Series (now known as Super3), was allocated additional points, changing the V8 Touring Cars allocation to: For 2020, an additional rule was added - any driver that finished in the top six of the Super2 Series automatically eligible for a Superlicencenext year; if one of
1156-437: Was first held in 2000 as the 2000 Konica V8 Lites Series and this inaugural contest was won by Dean Canto . Towards the end of the season Stone Brothers Racing entered a car for David Besnard as preparation for the long distance races, in the main V8 Supercar series, the Queensland 500 and the Bathurst 1000 , which unlike the other races require two drivers for each competing vehicle. Since then main series teams have used
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