SUPERCARS is actively striving to create a 24-car grid for 2024 – and it’s prepared to fork out millions to make it happen.
V8 Sleuth has learnt Supercars has begun scouring the market to see how it can get its hands on two of the 25 Teams Racing Charters currently in play.
It’s understood that Supercars and RACE, the championship’s owner, are willing to buy out a team (whether that’s an entire two-car team, or half of a four-car team).
In fact, it has been suggested that a figure in the vicinity of $6 million is on the table from Supercars/RACE.
It’s unclear at this stage exactly which teams might be targeted or tempted.
Why all this, you ask?
Well, first of all, Supercars seems intent on putting one TRC back on the shelf to facilitate a 24-car grid.
It’s understood that 24 has been identified as the magic number to make international freight dollars stack up.
Championship co-owner and chairman Barclay Nettlefold has made no secret of his dream to take Supercars international, including at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Supercars has already modified the racks used for airfreighting cars in a $100,000 project to adjust to the new dimensions of Gen3 machinery, something which will also help if/when New Zealand returns to the calendar.
The other TRC that is hoped to be acquired apparently would go to the Blanchard Racing Team.
BRT is in its third season as a standalone squad and is the only single-car team on the grid.
The one-car model is not ideal financially in so far as BRT does not enjoy the scale of economies of its rivals, and yet it still requires enough staff to complete pitstops.
Team owner Tim Blanchard has openly targeted 2024 as its time to expand.
Doubt was cast over that when Supercars CEO Shane Howard recently indicated the grid will not grow next season.
Blanchard, however, had remained optimistic about pressing on with expansion plans and this revelation might explain why.
Supercars had 24 full-time entries in 2021 before issuing Tickford Racing a fourth licence ahead of last season, which saw a return to 25.
There are 26 TRCs in total.
