Twin Twilight Supercars Races At The Australian Grand Prix
 |
| Last year's start |
Two of the first Supercar Championship point races at the Formula 1 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix will be run in twilight in prime time on Friday and Saturday evening.
The provisional track schedule for the event includes two twilight races and two daytime sprints with almost double the amount of track time, and Championship points for the first time.
The first Virgin Australia Supercars Championship race for points at the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit will be run on Friday evening from 5:50pm-6:50pm AEDT. It will be a 25-lap (132km) race, with a compulsory pitstop for tires and fuel.
Supercars will race twice on Saturday, 24 March, a 13-lap (69km) sprint at 12:40pm AEDT followed by the a 25-lap (132km) twilight race from 6:20pm – 7:20pm AEDT.
The fourth and final race of the event for Supercars will be a 13-lap (69km) sprint on Sunday afternoon from 1:45pm – 2:15pm AEDT before the first race of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship season.
The battle for the inaugural Larry Perkins Trophy features rapid-fire, 10-minute qualifying sessions across Thursday and Friday which set the grid for each of the four races.
Friday and Saturday’s twilight races will be contested across 60 minutes and 132km.
The other Saturday race and Sunday’s final shootout, the last race before the 2018 F1 season opener, will be 30-minute, 69km sprints.
Acting Supercars CEO, Shane Howard, said the track schedule was ideal for the fans, particularly those wanting after work entertainment on Friday and immediately following the huge first qualifying session on Saturday of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship.
“The twilight time slot works well for our television audience as well as fans at the track, who will get to see our first points races at Albert Park in perfect conditions," Howard said.
“To participate fully as a round of our Championship in Melbourne with 400km of racing across three days which includes pitstops, is a huge win for our fans, teams and our drivers.
“It is an honor to be alongside Formula One at Albert Park and as an official support category to the world’s premiere form of motorsport."
The Formula 1® 2018 Rolex Australian Grand Prix will run from Thursday 22 March to Sunday 25 March at Albert Park and will be the second Championship event of the 2018 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship following the season-opening Adelaide 500 from 1-4 March.
Coates Hire Supercars Melbourne 400 Provisional Schedule (all times AEDT)
Thursday
· 12:50pm – 1:20pm: Practice 1
· 2:40pm – 3:10pm: Practice 2
· 4:20pm – 4:30pm: Qualifying 1 (sets grid of Race 1)
· 4:40pm – 4:50pm: Qualifying 2 (sets grid of Race 2)
Friday
· 1:50pm – 2:00pm: Qualifying 3 (sets grid of Race 3)
· 2:10pm – 2:20pm: Qualifying 4 (sets grid of Race 4)
· 5:50pm – 6:50pm: Race 1 – 25 laps/132km with compulsory pitstop for tire change and fuel
Saturday
· 12:40pm – 1:10pm: Race 2 – 13 laps/69km
· 6:20pm – 7:20pm: Race 3 – 25 laps/132km with compulsory pitstop for tire change and fuel
Sunday
· 1:45pm – 2:15pm: Race 4 – 13 laps/69km
*Dates and times are subject to change.