Supercars Challenge (event)
 |
|
| Race Information | |
| Venue | Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit |
| Number of times held | 32 |
| First held | 1985 |
| Race Format | |
| Race 1 | |
| Laps | 13 |
| Distance | 70 km |
| Race 2 | |
| Laps | 13 |
| Distance | 70 km |
| Race 3 | |
| Laps | 13 |
| Distance | 70 km |
| Race 4 | |
| Laps | 13 |
| Distance | 70 km |
| Last Event (2017) | |
| Overall Winner | |
 Fabian Coulthard
|
DJR Team Penske |
| Race Winners | |
|
Scott McLaughlin
|
DJR Team Penske |
|
Fabian Coulthard
|
DJR Team Penske |
|
Fabian Coulthard
|
DJR Team Penske |
 Chaz Mostert
|
Rod Nash Racing |
The Supercars Challenge (known for sponsorship reasons as the Coates Hire Supercars Challenge, and previously known under various other names) is an annual non-championship motor racing event held for cars from the Supercars Championship, and formerly from V8 Supercars, the Shell Championship Series and the Australian Touring Car Championship. The event is held on the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit in Albert Park, Victoria, Australia as a support event to the Australian Grand Prix.
First held as a Formula One World Championship support race in 1985, the event was originally held at the Adelaide Street Circuit until the Australian Grand Prix moved to Melbourne for 1996.
The event's format has changed several times over its history. As it has always been a non points-paying event in the championship, several methods have been used to try and add a point of difference to the races, particularly from the late 2000s onwards. In 2008 and 2009, a Manufacturers' Challenge was introduced, pitting traditional rivals Ford and Holden against each other. In 2011, a portion of the grid was reversed between qualifying and the Top 10 Shootout. The size of this portion was determined by the provisional polesitter who drew a number between eight and twenty at random - which coincided with the number of cars whose position would be inverted.
In 2012, Supercars used a 'knockout' style qualifying race in order to set the grid for the rest of the weekend. This involved the bottom three cars being forced to retire on each of laps three to eight until only the top 10 remained, who completed the race. 2014 introduced both double file rolling starts to each race as well as awarding double points for the final race of the weekend, a move designed to imitate Formula One's plans for a double points race in their own season finale in Abu Dhabi.
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