Motorsport Australia Superlicence Explained

The Motorsport Australia Superlicence is a racing license awarded by Motorsport Australia. It is required for all drivers in the Supercars Championship, the highest-profile domestic circuit racing series in Australia.[1]

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 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,[2] only for a revised version to be reintroduced in early 2024.[1]

At times, the Supercars Championship has imposed additional requirements for drivers, notably that they have competed in the Super2 Series for a specified number of rounds.

2025 Requirements and Process

For the 2025 season, teams in the Supercars Championship apply for a Superlicence on behalf of prospective drivers.[1]

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 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 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.

2025 points table

The following table lists the points awarded for Australian/NZ series placings for awarding of 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.

Points
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Super2 Series15151515151510753
Super3 Series121212121086421
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia12121210864211
TCR Australia Series108643210090
Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia10864321000
GT Championship8643210000
Australian National Trans-Am Series7531000000
Formula 4 Australian Championship7531000000
Formula Regional Oceania Championship (Toyota Racing Series) (NZ)7531000000
S5000 Australian Drivers' Championship6432100000
GT4 Australia6432100000
Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series6432100000
National Formula Ford Series6432100000
SuperUtes Series6432100000
NZ Toyota 86 Series5310000000
NZ Formula Ford Championship5310000000
State Formula Ford championships5310000000
Production Car Series5310000000
Touring Car Masters5310000000
Aussie Racing Cars5310000000
Radical Cup5310000000
Prototype Series5310000000
National Sports Sedan Series5310000000
Karting series (KZ2, KA2)3210000000

History

2017

The Superlicence, then known as the CAMS Superlicense, was first introduced in October 2016 for the 2017 Supercars Championship season, at least in part in response to concerns about an inexperienced substitute driver[3]

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 the following racing series:[3]

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 the points allocation did not reflect the training value of their categories.[4] 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".[5]

Points!Notes
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Supercars Championship131196432100Drivers already in the championship are entitled to keep their licence indefinitely as long as they have competed in at least 3 rounds in five years
Dunlop series (Super2 Series)121087654321
GT Championship121076543210
GT Endurance Championship121076543210
Formula 4 Australian Championship121087654321
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia10876543210
(Toyota Racing Series) (NZ) (now known as Formula Regional Oceania Championship)10876543210
New Zealand Touring Car Championship5432100000
State Formula Ford championships5432100000
NZ Formula Ford Championship5432100000
V8 Ute Racing Series5432100000
Group 3E Production cars5432100000
Toyota 86 Series5422100000
V8 Touring Car Series (now known as Super3)5432100000
Touring Car Masters5321000000
Aussie Racing Cars5321000000
GT3 Cup Challenge5321000000
GT Trophy5321000000
Radical & Sports Racers5321000000
National Sports Sedan Series5321000000
Australian Formula 35310000000
Karting series (KZ2, KA2)3210000000

2018

In 2018, an additional eligibility criterion was added, so that any driver who finished in the top six of the Super2 Series was eligible for a Superlicence.[6] Furthermore, the V8 Touring Car Series (now known as Super3), was allocated additional points, changing the V8 Touring Cars allocation to:

Points
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
V8 Touring Car Series7 543210000

2020

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 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 a higher points allocation, and the Supercars Championship management seeking additional revisions.[7] 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 a dispensation for Herne to drive in the 2020 Bathurst 1000.[8]

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 a review of the points allocation system, in October 2020.[9]

Points!Notes
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Supercars Championship131196432100
Super2 Series121087654321Top six drivers entitled to Superlicence in the folllowing year, or top eight if a current Superlicence holder finished in the top six
Endurance Championship121087654321
GT Championship121076543210
Formula 4 Australian Championship121075321000
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia10876543210
(Toyota Racing Series) (NZ) (now knownas Formula Regional Oceania Championship)10876543210
TCR Australia Touring Car Series8765432100New Category
S5000 Series7654321000New Category
Super3 Series7543210000
New Zealand Touring Car Championship5432100000
State Formula Ford Championships5432100000
NZ Formula Ford Series5432100000
V8 Ute Racing Series/ SuperUtes Series5432100000
Toyota 86 Series5432100000
Production Car Series5432100000
Touring Car Masters5321000000
Aussie Racing Cars5321000000
Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Series5321000000
GT Trophy Series5321000000
Radical Cup5321000000
Sports Racer Series5321000000
Sports Sedan Series5321000000
Australian Formula 35310000000
Karting Championship (KZ2, KA1)3210000000

2021

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,[10] or seek dispensation.

2022

In March 2022, further changes were made to 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.[11]

The Supercars Championship itself imposed 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[12]

Points!Notes
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th
Supercars Championship131196432100
Super2 Series121087654321
Endurance Championship121087654321
GT Championship121076543210
S5000 Series121076543210
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (2022 onwards)121076543210
Formula 4 Australian Championship121075321000
Porsche Carrera Cup Australia (2019-2021)10876543210
(Toyota Racing Series) (NZ) (now knownas Formula Regional Oceania Championship)10876543210
TCR Australia Touring Car Series10876543210
Super3 Series10876543210
Australian National Trans-Am Series7543210000
Toyota 86 Series7543210000
Porsche Sprint Challenge Series7543210000
GT3 Trophy Series7543210000
Australian Formula Ford Series7543210000
New Zealand Touring Car Championship5432100000
State Formula Ford Championships5432100000
New Zealand Toyota 86 Series5432100000
NZ Formula Ford Series5432100000
V8 Ute Racing Series/ SuperUtes Series5432100000
Production Car Series5432100000
Touring Car Masters5321000000
Aussie Racing Cars5321000000
Radical Cup5321000000
Sports Racer Series5321000000
Sports Sedan Series5321000000
Australian Formula 35310000000
Karting Championship (KZ2, KA1)3210000000

2023

In July 2023, Motorsport Australia cancelled the Superlicence system.[13] The Supercars Championship amended its requirements for drivers, such that a driver who placed in the top three in either the Super3 Series or the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia would in the previous three years would only require three rounds in the Super2 Series, rather than six[14] .

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 1 February 2024 . Superlicence Returns With New Structure . Motorsport Australia.
  2. Web site: 26 July 2023 . Motorsport Australia abolishes Superlicence system . 22 October 2024 . Supercars Championship.
  3. Web site: Johansson . Stefan . 2016-10-12 . CAMS introduces Supercars Superlicense . 2024-10-24 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  4. Web site: Howard . Tom . 2016-10-13 . Formula Ford, F3 react to CAMS Superlicence . 2024-10-24 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  5. Web site: Howard . Tom . 2017-02-09 . Warburton calls for CAMS Superlicence review . 2024-10-24 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  6. Web site: Williams . Bruce . 14 November 2017 . CAMS Change Superlicence Requirements . 24 October 2024 . Auto Action.
  7. Web site: Herrero . Daniel . 2020-04-30 . Superlicence criteria under review for Super2, S5000 . 2024-10-25 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  8. Web site: Vandersyde . Rhys . 2020-09-21 . No Superlicence Dispensation for Herne . 2024-10-25 . Auto Action.
  9. Web site: Coch . Mat . 2020-10-30 . Full Superlicence points for Super2 and Super3 . 2024-10-25 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  10. Web site: McCarthy . Dan . 6 July 2021 . Super2 Not the Only Pathway . 25 October 2024 . Auto Action.
  11. Web site: Speedcafe.com . 2022-03-25 . Major changes for Motorsport Australia Superlicence system . 2024-10-29 . Speedcafe.com . en-AU.
  12. Web site: Clarke . Andrew . 1 June 2023 . Rogers frustrated with Supercars’ licence hurdle . 29 October 2024 . Auto Action.
  13. Web site: Williams . Bruce . July 27, 2023 . Motorsport Australia Superlicences ‘cancelled’ . 29 October 2024 . Auto Action.
  14. Web site: O'Brien . Connor . 2023-07-20 . Supercars announces driver eligibility rule change . 2024-10-29 . V8 Sleuth . en-US.