What is Supersprinting?
The aim of Supersprinting is to give people the opportunity to drive their cars on a race circuit under conditions similar to a motor race, with the exception that “racing” isn’t allowed so the risk of vehicle damage is quite small.
Apart from just having fun driving quickly on a race tack, in a supersprint each driver’s aim is to set a personal best lap time, and if competing, the fastest lap time compared to other cars in the same class. In short, each competitor is “racing against the clock” rather than racing against other cars on the track. This can be seen in the video clip below.
Drivers are sent out onto the track in groups with similar lap times. The number of cars in a group that goes out on the circuit at any one time varies depending on the length of the circuit and the lap speed of the Group. Cars are organised to be sent out in a fastest-to-slowest order to minimise the amount of overtaking and to maximise the fun had in chasing the car in front of you.
Motorsport Australia administers a Supersprint competition in NSW where drivers can also compete for a State Championship in their particular class if they wish to do so. Each round of the State Championship is hosted by a Motorsport Australia member Club. Requirements to compete in this competition are basically the same as competing at a Club or Multi Club level.
Get Your Motorsport Australia ID.
You will need to register with Motorsport Australia to obtain a Speed Licence which allows you to compete in any supersprint, track day, Hill Climb or other Speed Event in Australia. Please click here to register for your Motorsport Australia ID.
Join a Motorsport Australia Member Car Club.
You will also need to be a member of a Motorsport Australia Member Car Club and be able to show that you are a current financial member to enter any Motorsport Australia permitted speed event. To enquire about Motorsport Australia Member Car Clubs, please email the Motorsport Australia NSW Supersprint Panel on panel@supersprintnsw.com and include what type of cars that you have an interest in as well as the area where you live.
Obtain your Motorsport Australia Speed Licence.
A Motorsport Australia Speed Licence allows you to compete at pace in events such as Regularity, Supersprinting, Hill Climbs, Drifting and Touring Road Events. It is designed for competitors, from the age of 14, who want to explore the full potential of their vehicle and driving ability at speed and against the clock. Please click here to download a Motorsport Australia Speed Licence Application Form.
Determine the Class that you want to compete in.
Below is an overview of the Classes available to compete in. Essentially there is a Class for everyone. For a more definitive definition of Class eligibility please click here to download a copy of the Technical Regulations.
Register for the NSW Supersprints.
Registering for the NSW Supersprints will secure you your own race number as well as enabling you to accumulate points in the NSW Supersprint Championship. Registrants also get priority entry to events so they can secure their place before entries fill.
To register for the 2023 Motorsport Australia NSW Supersprint Championships please click here for the online registration form. This form must be completed and submitted to secure Championship registration.
Once you have submitted your registration form you will be given a link to make your payment directly to Motorsport Australia. Please click on that link to make your payment. Please note that Motorsport Australia has called their form an “Online Registration” form, but it is actually their payment form – our actual Online Registration form is accessed through the link in the paragraph above.
Please note that it is not mandatory for you to register to compete in these events. You can enter as a non registrant and be allocated a race number for the day.
Competitors who are not registered for the 2023 Championships but would like to be advised when registrations open for the 2024 Championships, will be able to complete and submit an online Expression of Interest for the 2023 Championships. Those who have submitted an EOI for 2024 will be advised when 2024 registrations open at the same time current competitors are. Please keep an eye out on this website’s Competitor Information page for when 2024 EOI’s open.
Prepare your car.
The most important thing in terms of preparing your car is to understand it’s Class Eligibility requirements that are documented in the Technical Regulations and it’s Safety requirements that are documented in the Supplementary Regulations for each event.
Self-scrutiny is now in place at NSW Championship Events for vehicles that do not have a Motorsport Australia Log Book. Competitors are required to perform the relevant Safety Requirements on their vehicles and declare that they have done so. Random audits will be carried out by scrutineers at each event, so it is very important that these items are checked before you depart for the event. Please click on the link to download a Scrutineering Reference Sheet which details all the safety items that are checked at scrutineering. Road Registered cars may not need to comply with items included specifically for race cars.
If you are competing in State or National events your car must be either Road Registered or have a Motorsport Australia Log Book. Cars competing in Club or Multi Club events that are not Road Registered do not require a Motorsport Australia Log Book. Please click here for more information about Motorsport Australia Log Books.
Enter a Supersprint.
Please click here for a calendar of upcoming NSW Supersprint events.
Prepare for the Event
Essential Requirements for you, the Driver
Clothing must be of non-flammable material (no synthetics) and cover you from neck to wrist to ankle. This includes your footwear, which will be closed-in shoes or boots (no synthetics, thongs or sandals).
It is not necessary to wear a driving suit – jeans and cotton long sleeved shirts are ok. Shoes need to have a leather upper, or wear driving shoes if you prefer. Joggers with a leather upper are ok as long as they are not synthetic, but sometimes the soles can be too wide for effective pedal operation, so assess carefully.
A safety helmet to AS/NZS1698 standard or equivalent as listed in the Motorsport Australia Manual and can be open or full-face style for Road Registered cars. If your car is not road registered it will need a Motorsport Australia Log Book, except if it is competing in the Multi-Club event. Cars whose Log Book category requires the mandatory use of a Frontal Head Restraint (FHR) must also use an FHR at a State or National level event.
Download the Supplementary Regulations for the chosen event. These will be available from under the Entries Tab when entries are due to open. The Supplementary Regulations should be read carefully so that you don’t have any unwelcome surprises on the day.
Essential requirements for your Car
Road registered cars in Motorsport Australia events require a fire extinguisher of at least 900g capacity, which must be restrained on a metal bracket, if possible, and removable by the driver without tools. Extinguishers are date stamped and only valid for 3 years from that date as required by the Australian Standards. Hunt through the stock at your favourite auto parts retailer for the earliest date on the fire extinguisher so you get the most life out of it – they are rarely used. Check it before each event to make sure it’s indicator is in the green section of the gauge – if not, buy a new one. At the expiry date, buy a new one, as it is not worth having your old one recharged or tested – it costs about twice as much as purchasing another one. Note: Only refer to the date stamped on the extinguisher body itself, date tags are not acceptable as they can be transferred from one extinguisher to another.
A battery location indicator – a blue triangle with sides measuring 150mm, usually a sticker to indicate where the battery is located. Do not use the blue triangle with a lightning bolt in it – this indicates a “kill” switch. You can also use blue insulating tape to make that triangle.
Competition numbers in a contrasting colour (230mm high) on the sides and Dayglo yellow on the top passenger side of the windscreen (150mm high). Alternatively, numbers can be formed with tape, but must be clearly visible at a distance.
If you are a casual entrant a race number will be assigned by the organisers for the day, however if you intend to enter regularly or semi-regularly, we recommend that you register for the Championship where you will be allocated your own competition number.
Brake lights must work. If the weather threatens rain you may also be asked to show that your windscreen wipers work too.
If your car has glass headlights / driving lights they must be covered or otherwise secured to prevent glass falling out in the event of damage. Clear contact is one of the easiest ways to achieve this, especially on road registered cars and can last the season without replacement if your car is garaged and kept out of the weather. Headlights that have plastic lenses as standard are exempt from this requirement. Covering up forward facing glass lens can also be done with insulating tape.
Cars must have a second return spring fitted or have a mechanism to close the throttle in the event of linkage or spring failure.
Towing points or straps are required to be fitted both front and rear to allow for the speedy recovery of the vehicle by the rescue team. OEM tow points are permitted to be used on road registered cars as long as their location, if not clearly visible, is marked with a red “Tow” triangle sticker or made from insulating tape.
Remove all loose articles from the car, including jack, floor and boot mats, spare wheel, tools, and anything in the cabin. Scrutineers will check for loose items and will pay particular attention to cameras, which must be fixed in the cabin away from the driver, and have a secondary tether (eg cable ties) if removable.
Optional extras …
A harness in place of standard seat belt. A harness keeps you in place more firmly than a 3-point seatbelt. They should be securely mounted with no fabric wear. Note that harnesses are not road legal so road registered cars will need to retain the OEM belts. Harnesses are not to be used after the latest date of: (a) FIA – Mfr date plus 10 yrs to Dec 31st or 5 years from expiry date or (b) SFI – Mfr date plus 2 yrs.
R spec tyres improve grip, handling and predictability on the track, although tend to wear out quickly if used on the road due to their softer compound. A worthwhile investment for regular competitors. Tyres marked or advertised not for competition use are not permitted, even if they have the U.S. “D.O.T.” marking.
Gloves are optional, but considering that the rest of you is covered up, may be a worthwhile addition.
Improved driving seat. Leather and vinyl seats don’t hold you in place very well. Neither do older, armchair style seats. Consider changing to a fabric covered, well-fitting seat, although it doesn’t have to be a dedicated racing seat unless you want to spend the money. Make sure that if you do change the seat that the mounting points are secure, air bag system is not interrupted and meet RMS requirements for road registered cars.
What to do on the day.
Arrive at the circuit early as garages/car ports are occupied very quickly and the scrutineering queue can become long.
Unload everything from your car, and fix your numbers to the car. Tape them on if they are magnetic.
If this is your first time driving on this track, place an “X” on the rear of your car (about 15 cm square) in insulating tape of a contrasting colour that is clearly visible to cars behind you.
Change wheels if necessary – double check the wheel nuts for correct tightness!
Take your car registration papers and/or log book and helmet to scrutineering to be checked off and receive your scrutineering sticker. Return to your car and place it at the top of your windscreen, on the drivers side so it is in clear view of the Grid Marshall.
If you have hired an electronic timer, go to the Timing Area, most often in the Control Tower and sign for it.
Attend the Drivers’ Briefing when called – it is COMPULSORY. Sign the attendance sheet – that’s compulsory, too.
Last minute checking might include adjusting your harness if you are using one and checking that bonnet, boot and doors are all shut properly, the wheel nuts are properly tightened if you have changed your wheels and that your starting tyre pressures have been set.
Follow an experienced driver for your first few laps to learn the lines, if there are no familiarisation laps.
Have a cup of coffee and go the loo!
Queue up for your first timed run in your allocated grid group when instructed.
Go out and have fun but take it easy for your first few runs!!!
When you return to your garage after a run, do not apply the parking brake as your brake pads could adhere to your hot disks.
Immediately open your bonnet to help the engine cool down then quickly check your hot tyre pressures and let them down to the pressure that you want to run at in your next session. Check your engine’s belts and check for fluid leaks and fluid levels. Repeat this after every session.
At the end of the day, don’t forget to return your timing transponder before you leave as you really don’t want to have to pay for a replacement!
When on the track, start with late apexes and then bring them in earlier until you achieve maximum corner speed without running wide off the track when exiting.
For further improvement in your driving, please click for some Track Driving Basics. Once you have some laps under your belt, there is a lot more to discover about how to improve your driving. Professional Race Driver and Coach, Scott Mansell, has given permission for our competitors to access the techniques that his Company Driver 61 has developed in the Tutorials contained in their Drivers University.
Want to talk with someone?
Please click here to contact an experienced member of the Motorsport Australia NSW Supersprint Panel who will be only too pleased to answer your questions and provide you with advice.