Supercars grid to grow in 2022 as new Gen3 Camaro and Mustang arrive

Do you want to run your own Supercars team? Well now’s your chance.

The sport has announced it will expand the grid from its current 24 cars to 26 entries for 2022. To enter a car in the category a team must own what the sport calls a Racing Entitlements Contract (RECs), effectively a franchise agreement that ensures only professional teams can compete.

With the introduction of the new ‘Gen3’ regulations for 2022, which will see the introduction of new racing versions of the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang, it’s seen as the right time to grow the grid again.

The Gen3 rules have been designed to cut costs, both in building the cars and running them, so it’s hoped that will make the sport appealing to would-be new team owners.

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At the end of the 2018 season both Triple Eight Race Engineering and Tickford Racing handed back a RECs each, and now Supercars is looking for new or existing teams to step up and expand the field back to what the sport’s management sees as an ideal number.

In a busy off-season, businessmen Tony Quinn and Stephen Grove bought into the category, taking major shareholdings in Triple Eight and Kelly Racing (now Kelly Grove Racing) respectively, while driver Tim Blanchard stepped out of the cockpit and into ownership with his own team. So, Supercars CEO Sean Seamer is confident more new owners will be found.

“This is an opportunity for a new team owner to join the fold or offer an existing team owner the opportunity to expand their program,” Mr Seamer told Supercars.com.

“Supercars has already received interest from several parties to purchase these RECs.

“The championship’s competitive racing is the envy of the motorsport world and the interest we have received points to a bold, confident and exhilarating future for the championship.”

There are a number of potential takers for these two RECs including Boost Mobile owner, Peter Adderton, who has spent millions on sponsorship and has repeatedly expressed his desire to own his own team.

He’ll have plenty of competition from existing teams though, with several established squads believed to be interested in growing.

Tickford Racing reportedly wants to get its entry back, to allow it to expand to a four-car operation next year. Tim Blanchard wants to add a second Mustang to his operation, while Matt Stone Racing may want to increase the size of his outfit.

Interested parties have until April 23 to submit formal bids to Supercars before a final sale deadline of June 30.