• Latest
  • Trending
Opinion: SuperLite scheme here to stay

Opinion: SuperLite scheme here to stay

April 17, 2020
Hedge aiming to be title contender in rookie Michelin Sprint Challenge season

Hedge aiming to be title contender in rookie Michelin Sprint Challenge season

March 3, 2021
Emma Gilmour scores international electric Extreme E reserve driver deal

Emma Gilmour scores international electric Extreme E reserve driver deal

March 3, 2021
Hamilton: “I’ve achieved most of the stuff that I’ve wanted to achieve”

Hamilton: “I’ve achieved most of the stuff that I’ve wanted to achieve”

March 3, 2021
Alpine show off fresh look for 2021 F1 season

Alpine show off fresh look for 2021 F1 season

March 3, 2021
Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

March 2, 2021
Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

March 2, 2021
Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

Earl Bamber to race in 2021 Nürburgring 24 Hour

March 2, 2021
MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

MotorSport New Zealand launches first official eSport race series

March 1, 2021
Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

March 1, 2021
MotoFest 2021 postponed

MotoFest 2021 postponed

March 1, 2021
Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

Jack Brabham’s first-ever F1 car up for sale

March 1, 2021
Thursday, March 4, 2021
VelocityNews
Classifieds
Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
VelocityNews
No Result
View All Result

Opinion: SuperLite scheme here to stay

by Zane Shackleton
April 17, 2020
in Australia, Opinion, Supercars
0

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

Slade disappointed with crash but sees positives after opening round

“We’ve got to keep chipping away”: Van Gisbergen reflects on victory streak and big title lead

Matt Stone Racing’s unique SuperLite scheme for 2020 is set to become a ground-breaking revolution to a sport that has often struggled to offer the pathway to the top for genuine, locally bred talent.

Success or failure, the programme will ultimately alter the game for Supercars moving forward.

As well-documented, MSR has opted to run a shared car for their #34 entry.

Drivers Zane Goddard and Jake Kostecki both competed against each other in last year’s Super2 development series.

For 2020 they will share the MSR second entry, sharing duties on the sprint rounds before teaming up for the endurance races.

MSR team owner Matt Stone is adamant that his team’s unusual approach with the SuperLite scheme is exactly the type of innovation necessary for young, emerging talent.

(Goddard in last year’s Super2 series)

Stone told Speedcafe.com back in December: “Once I explained to them [Supercars] reasoning and the concept behind it, they all got very excited by it, because obviously, they are very focused on the whole pathway for young drivers in Supercars.

“In my view it’s the missing step in the progression of drivers from karts to Super3, Super2, and then that big giant step from Super2 to the main game.

“To me, this scheme is providing that missing step for drivers, allowing them to graduate a little bit earlier into the main game and allowing them less pressure, because it’s not racing every single week.”

Ultimately that statement is flawed to the fact that Supercars have enormous periods of rest between every round, to the extent that the championship draws on well beyond necessary.

But importantly, Stone has centralised his focus on what the SuperLite initiative was founded upon – to “provide that missing step for drivers.”

The 2020 Supercars Championship will have only four Super2 drivers promoted to the top category.

2019 Super2 champion Bryce Fullwood being one of the other junior graduates, signing onboard with Walkinshaw Andretti United to replace the departing Scott Pye. While Jack Smith will be guided by Brad Jones Racing for his debut season.

The next generation of Supercar Champions are patiently waiting on the series’ doorstep and have been so for an incredibly long time.

(Kostecki Brothers Racing entered Bathurst as a wildcard entry last season)

While financial backing is another major factor that settles whether one can graduate to a full-time seat (and for a few the only reason they are in a full-time seat), MSR’s SuperLite scheme will undoubtedly eliminate many essential barriers that are preventing junior promotion.

Both Zane Goddard and Jake Kostecki will have the huge benefit of having their talent on public display, open to critical analysis, by all major Supercars teams. Their expertise in data evaluation and engineer feedback will expand tenfold, all while halving the required funding to run one full season.

It becomes a programme that has strong bias favour in supporting young talent and then providing them with the tools necessary to secure a future drive.

Currently, the success of the SuperLite scheme is all theoretical and likely won’t be up for review till after the 2020 season.

But, should MSR’s pioneering gamble pay dividends, then expect a number of split-driver cars to appear for a number of teams.

Imagine a Triple Eight or DJR Team Penske third car that is shared by the most promising Super2 drivers, even perhaps as a prize for winning the championship to ensure that no potential future-champion withers away from the sport altogether.

SuperLite may be the next big thing in Supercars since oversized Mustang body shells.

But no doubt it is here to stay and, for the sakes of the sport’s future, stay it must.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hedge aiming to be title contender in rookie Michelin Sprint Challenge season

Emma Gilmour scores international electric Extreme E reserve driver deal

Hamilton: “I’ve achieved most of the stuff that I’ve wanted to achieve”

Alpine show off fresh look for 2021 F1 season

Is the Virtual Safety Car the way forward for racing in New Zealand?

Carroll Shelby’s personal Daytona Cobra emerges online for sale

Bringing you the latest motorsport news in New Zealand and around the world

Managing editor and publisher:
Mark Petch mark@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Matthew Hansen matt@velocitynews.co.nz

Motorsport Editor:
Alex Schultz alex@velocitynews.co.nz

Motor Racing Editor:
Zane Shackleton zane@velocitynews.co.nz

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact Us

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • International
      • Formula 1
      • Formula 2
      • Formula 3
      • Formula E
      • Esports
      • Super GT
      • Super Formula
      • TCR
      • WEC
      • GT
      • Porsche Carrera Cup
      • BTCC
      • DTM
      • IMSA
      • IndyCar
      • NASCAR
      • WRC
      • MotoGP
      • Motorcycle Racing
      • Classic
    • New Zealand
      • Toyota Race Series
      • Toyota 86
      • Rally
      • Speedway
      • Drifting
      • Formula Ford
      • Formula First
      • TCR NZ
      • TransTasman V8 Series
      • V8 Utes
      • GTRNZ
      • Central Muscle Cars
      • Pirelli Porsche
      • Mazda Racing Series
      • NIERDC
      • SIERDC
      • SsangYong Utes
      • Kartsport
      • NZ General
    • Australia
      • Supercars
      • Super2
      • Australian V8 Touring Car Series
      • S5000
      • Australian GT
      • TCR AU
    • General
  • Features
    • Features
    • Opinion
    • Profile
    • Race Cars
  • Calendar
  • Results
  • Velocity TV
  • Performance Cars
  • Classifieds
    • Classifieds
    • Post Classified
    • Manage your listings
  • Jobs
    • Jobs
    • Post a Job
    • Job Dashboard

© 2020 VelocityNews - Independent New Zealand and International Motorsport news.