Editing Supercars Championship (section)

===Teams and drivers===
In order to compete in the Supercars Championship, drivers are required to hold a [[Motorsport Australia Superlicence]], earned by success in other high-level Australian circuit racing series (with special eligibility processes for overseas drivers).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Superlicence Returns With New Structure |url=https://motorsport.org.au/media/news/detail/2024/01/31/superlicence-returns-with-new-structure |access-date=21 October 2024 |website=Motorsport Australia}}</ref>

Each car entered is required to have a Teams Racing Charter (TRC), formerly known as a Racing Entitlements Contract (REC). A TRC is a contract between Supercars and a team which outlines the team's entitlements and obligations.<ref>2016 V8 Supercar Operations Manual, p. A6–A10</ref> TRCs may be leased by their owners to another party for a maximum of two years, after which the owner must either use it themselves or sell it.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/04/05/charlie-schwekolt-closes-in-on-2013-v8-plans/ | title=Charlie Schwerkolt closes in on 2013 V8 plans | work=Speedcafe | last=Rowley | first=Grant | date=5 April 2012 | access-date=19 June 2014 | archive-date=15 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315021304/http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/04/05/charlie-schwekolt-closes-in-on-2013-v8-plans/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> A racing number is tied to each TRC, with teams able to apply for a TRC number to be changed. The defending series champion is entitled to use the number 1, with the original TRC number of that car reserved and not able to be used by another team without the agreement of its owner.<ref>2016 V8 Supercar Operations Manual, p. E8</ref>

The TRCs were originally issued in 1999. Known as TEGA franchise agreements, they were divided into three categories – Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Twelve Level 1 franchises were issued to those teams that had competed in the series full-time since its inception in 1997:<ref name=GreatRace19>{{cite book|last=Normoyle|first=Steve|title=The Great Race 19|year=1999|publisher=Chevron Publishing|location=Hornsby|issn=1031-6124}}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*[[Dick Johnson Racing]]
*[[Garry Rogers Motorsport]]
*[[Gibson Motorsport]]
*[[Glenn Seton Racing]]
*[[John Faulkner Racing]]
*[[Walkinshaw Andretti United|Holden Racing Team]]
*[[Lansvale Racing Team]]
*[[Larkham Motor Sport]]
*[[Longhurst Racing]]
*[[Perkins Engineering]]
*[[Romano Racing]]
*[[Stone Brothers Racing]]}}

A thirteenth was later issued to [[Bob Forbes Racing]].<ref>{{cite AustLII|FCA|749|2005|litigants=Gibson Motor Sport Merchandise Pty Ltd v Robert James Forbes |courtname=auto |date=29 June 2005}}.</ref> A Level 1 franchise required a team to race at least one car at all events, and at various times allowed a team to enter up to four cars. Other teams received Level 2 and Level 3 franchises based on their level of participation.<ref name=GreatRace19/> The structure was changed a number of times before the present system of 28 RECs was arrived at in 2011. Supercars bought a number of RECs as they became available in order to achieve a long-held desire to reduce the field to 28 cars.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2009/11/04/the-push-for-28-entries-remains/ | title=The push for 28 entries remains | work=Speedcafe | date=4 November 2009 | access-date=19 June 2014 | archive-date=31 July 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731015257/http://www.speedcafe.com/2009/11/04/the-push-for-28-entries-remains/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

At the end of 2013, [[Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport]], [[Tony D'Alberto Racing]] and [[Triple F Racing]] each returned a REC to Supercars.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/05/v8-supercars-confirms-25-cars/|title=V8 Supercars confirms 25 car grid for 2014|work=Speedcafe|date=5 February 2014|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=5 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605193509/http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/02/05/v8-supercars-confirms-25-cars/|url-status=dead}}</ref> These were put up for sale in 2014, but no bids were received.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/06/23/v8-supercars-open-rec-tender/|title=V8 Supercars to open REC tender|work=speedcafe|date=23 June 2014|access-date=25 December 2021|archive-date=25 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211225200436/https://www.speedcafe.com/2014/06/23/v8-supercars-open-rec-tender/|url-status=dead}}</ref> One was reclaimed by Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport in 2015 after a legal fight.<ref>[http://www.v8supercars.com.au/news/championship/ldm-to-run-two-cars-in-2015 LDM to run two cars in 2015] V8 Supercars 5 December 2014</ref> At the end of 2014, a further REC was returned by [[James Rosenberg Racing]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/12/03/rosenberg-dumps-license-in-walkinshaw-shock/|title=Rosenberg dumps license in Walkinshaw shock|work=Speedcafe|date=3 December 2014|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416033423/http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/12/03/rosenberg-dumps-license-in-walkinshaw-shock/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2015, Supercars launched a tender for one REC for the 2016 season, with Triple Eight the successful bidder.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/04/10/v8-supercars-launches-tender-for-26th-rec/|title=V8 Supercars launches tender for 26th REC|work=Speedcafe|date=10 April 2015|access-date=10 April 2015|archive-date=12 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412114130/http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/04/10/v8-supercars-launches-tender-for-26th-rec/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Teams consist of one to four cars, with most one-car teams forming a technical alliance with a larger team.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.v8supercars.com.au/news/analysis-the-rise-and-rise-of-tekno-autosports | title=The Rise and Rise of Tekno Autosports | work=V8Supercars.com.au | publisher=V8 Supercars Australia | quote=Jonathan Webb ran as a satellite entry from within the famous Queensland outfit... | date=4 March 2013 | access-date=20 April 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501175232/http://www.v8supercars.com.au/news/analysis-the-rise-and-rise-of-tekno-autosports | archive-date=1 May 2013}}</ref> Only the REC holders are allowed to compete at each event, although "wildcard" entries are accepted for the endurance races, with a maximum of six extra cars on top of the regular 28.<ref>2016 V8 Supercar Operations Manual, p. A23</ref> Both Supercars and [[Dunlop V8 Supercar Series|Development Series]] teams have entered wildcard entries in previous years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/09/05/triple-eight-uncovers-xbox-one-forza5-v8supercar-bathurst/|title=Triple Eight Unveils Wildcard Drivers/Sponsor|work=Speedcafe|date=5 September 2013|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=16 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140216040515/http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/09/05/triple-eight-uncovers-xbox-one-forza5-v8supercar-bathurst/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2010/09/09/first-pics-mwm%E2%80%99s-fujitsu-wildcard-entry/|title=First Pics: MWM's Fujitsu Wildcard Entry|work=Speedcafe|date=9 September 2010|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025141119/http://www.speedcafe.com/2010/09/09/first-pics-mwm%e2%80%99s-fujitsu-wildcard-entry/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2014, the first wildcard entry for a sprint race was issued when [[Dick Johnson Racing]] entered a third car for [[Marcos Ambrose]] at the [[2014 Sydney NRMA 500|Sydney 500]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/10/25/ambrose-make-early-v8-return-sydney-500/|title=Ambrose to make early V8 return at Sydney 500|work=Speedcafe|date=25 October 2014|access-date=25 October 2014|archive-date=25 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025055729/http://www.speedcafe.com/2014/10/25/ambrose-make-early-v8-return-sydney-500/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Most drivers in the series are full-time professionals paid by their teams.<ref name="roland-salary">{{Cite web |last=Dane |first=Roland |date=2023-09-13 |title=Roland's View: Sometimes you've got to just put the record straight! |url=https://speedcafe.com/rolands-view-peter-adderton-pay-drivers/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=Speedcafe.com |language=en-AU}}</ref>  Exact salaries are not disclosed, but former team owner [[Roland Dane]] stated in 2024 "...the two top Supercar drivers are earning more than all their European based counterparts racing in [[Group GT3|GT3]].".<ref name="roland-salary" /> [[Pay driver]]s are not unknown, but reportedly make up a small minority of the Supercar field.

Teams are required to employ a co-driver for each car during the two endurance races due to the increased race distance and the need for driver substitutions during the race.<ref>2016 V8 Supercar Operations Manual, p. D10–D18</ref> Teams were able to pair their full-time drivers in one car until a rule change in 2010 that required each full-time driver to remain in his own car and be joined by a co-driver not competing full-time in the series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.speedcafe.com/2009/12/11/v8-drivers-forced-to-split-for-enduros/|title=V8 Drivers Forced to Split for Enduros|work=Speedcafe|date=11 December 2009|access-date=19 June 2014|archive-date=15 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315091518/http://www.speedcafe.com/2009/12/11/v8-drivers-forced-to-split-for-enduros/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Drivers Championship title is awarded to the driver who accumulates the most points over the course of the season. If there is a points tie for the series win, the champion will be decided based on the number of races won by each driver (if there is still a tie, it is based on second-place finishes and so on). Teams also compete for the Teams Championship, with the champion team being decided in the same manner as the Drivers Championship. For Teams Championship points scoring purposes, teams with four cars are separated into a pair of two-car teams, while teams with three cars are split into a two-car team and a single-car team.<ref>2016 V8 Supercar Operations Manual, p. D42</ref> The Teams Championship dictates the pit lane order for the following season.

The defending champion driver has the right to carry the number 1 the following year. However, [[Shane van Gisbergen]] and [[Scott McLaughlin (racing driver)|Scott McLaughlin]] elected to retain their existing numbers in 2017, 2019, 2020, 2022 & 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/supercars/supercars-shane-van-gisbergen-to-use-no-97-not-no-1-during-2017-season/news-story/abdeea1483ab93dcfcdd4be834c1ad22&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjJ_LiGw7PSAhWJTLwKHbI8AEkQFggiMAI&usg=AFQjCNFsmKotavCyC5D2ZLRhSDLP_thDbw|title=Shane van Gisbergen to use No 97, not No 1, during 2017 season|work=[[Fox Sports Australia]]|date=13 January 2017}}{{Dead link|date=December 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/11/27/mclaughlin-elects-to-stay-with-famous-17-for-2019/|title=McLaughlin elects to stay with famous #17 for 2019|date=27 November 2018|work=Speedcafe|access-date=19 December 2018|archive-date=9 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709172458/https://www.speedcafe.com/2018/11/27/mclaughlin-elects-to-stay-with-famous-17-for-2019/|url-status=dead}}</ref>