Supercars will keep its tight end on employees at events throughout the 2021 season and have confirmed a revised pre-season test plan.
The department introduced on-site staffing limits for events as part of their COVID-safe plan when the season resumed in the midst of a pandemic in June.
Initially only 13 people were allowed drivers for each pair of cars, which was subsequently fixed to include more non-performing employees.
The restrictions are expected to continue into this season, with a view to cost savings as well as health advice.
For the non-refueling races – Sandown, Symmons Plains, The Bend, Winton, Darwin, Sydney Motorsport Park, Perth and Auckland – teams can only bring in 11 employees, excluding drivers.
For these events the limits will continue on people across the line at stops (six) and retreat guns (two).
For the refueling races – Bathurst x2, Townsville and Gold Coast – an additional performer will be allowed, bringing the maximum to 12 per two cars.
For non-performing employees, the limit will start at two for all events – but will be at rest once populations grow and more commercial activity and outlets are allowed.
“All the teams, and we at Supercars, are aware that we do not want all the positive work we put in last year with COVID,” Motorsport Supercars CEO Adrian Burgess told Autosport.
“A lot of the cost savings, and as we have changed our events from three days ago to two days, that has been a financial improvement for the teams. We want to keep that, and crew numbers as part of that.
“We will open that [non-performance] number when we have goods available, we have a huge crowd in the paddock, we have pit rides and sponsorship activity and all of those things are back in full swing. We will allow more teams to address that. But the worst case scenario, where we are working with the smallest numbers everywhere, is two employees who are not performing.
“If you work on the basis that each employee you bring to the tour costs you about $ 25,000 a year, in addition to their salary, it adds up quickly. teams to lose sight of some of the positive things we have achieved at the end of last year. “
Eight of the 11 teams will run two cars this season, and Brad Jones Racing even ran four.
The same outliers are Tickford Racing and Team Blanchard Racing, which run three and one car respectively.
However, they are expected to share a second pit upgrade, which means they will split the allowed staff two cars over each car.
Fresh Pre-Season Test Plan
Supercars has abandoned plans for an all-season pre-season test at Sydney’s Motorsport Park due to COVID-19 restrictions.
A recent uprising in New South Wales has largely cut off the state capital from the rest of Australia through border closures and quarantine requirements.
That prompted Supercars to embark on a late change of plans for their pre-season official test, which was due to take place at SMP on February 14th.
Tests will now be split between Queensland Raceway and Winton, depending on where teams are based.
Those in Queensland will run at QR on February 12, before Winton hosts the Melbourne teams, and Albury-based Brad Jones Racing, on February 16.
Team Sydney, based at SMP, could still test at home route.
The trials will provide the first and only time for teams ahead of the 2021 season opener at Mount Panorama on February 26-28.