Supersports is an Australian motor racing class designed as a relatively cheap class of
sports racing car
Sports car racing is a form of motorsport road racing which utilises sports cars that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built prototypes or grand tourers based on road-going models. Broadly speaking, sports car racing is o ...
. While looking like international sports cars the vehicles themselves are smaller and lighter. Engines are liquid-cooled, four stroke, naturally aspirated engines. They can be sourced from motorcycles with a limit of 1100 cubic centimetres, or from cars with a limit of 1630 cubic centimetres. Cockpit dimensions must have space for two seats.
[http://www.camsmanual.com.au/pdf/02_race/c_2nd_category/ra19_group_2c_q210.pdf ]
The category superseded the previous small sports car category,
Clubman Sports 1300
The Australian Clubman, later known as Sports 1300 class catered for small capacity front engine rear wheel drive sportscars initially similar to the road going sports cars such as the Lotus 7 and to other Clubman series internationally. These ca ...
(which was limited to 1300cc car engined vehicles) in 2003. The increasing popularity internationally of motorcycle powered small sports cars like those built by
Radical
Radical may refer to:
Politics and ideology Politics
*Radical politics, the political intent of fundamental societal change
*Radicalism (historical), the Radical Movement that began in late 18th century Britain and spread to continental Europe and ...
and others brought on the change, which also sought to modernise the category. The requirement for a two-seat cockpit has seen several, mostly American sports cars, like those built by
West Race Cars excluded from Supersports.
Supersports raced competitively at state level in New South Wales, racing with state level
Australian Formula 2
Australian Formula 2, sometimes abbreviated to AF2 or ANF2, is a "wings and slicks" formula racing category in Australia. The category is one of Australia's oldest, dating back to 1964. The current format of AF2 was introduced in 1978. Brian Shea ...
cars, as well as cars appearing in most eastern states. Up until 2010 the most prominent title for the class was the Supersports Interstate Challenge, a title first awarded to the Sports 1300 class in 1979. The most recent title was won by Stephen Morcombe driving a
Chiron
In Greek mythology, Chiron ( ; also Cheiron or Kheiron; ) was held to be the superlative centaur amongst his brethren since he was called the "wisest and justest of all the centaurs".
Biography
Chiron was notable throughout Greek mythology ...
.
In 2010 a new national series began for Supersports and invited cars (to allow single-seat sports cars such as West designs) was created called the
Sports Racer Series
The Australian Prototype Series is an Australian motor racing series for competitors smaller-engined (under 3.0 litres of engine capacity) prototype sports cars. Originally known as ''Sports Racer Series'', eligibility is something of a polyglot c ...
. The series however collapsed after only two rounds. The series is being revived for 2011, but will clash directly with the one-make Radical Australia Cup, the former New South Wales series expanding to a national series for the first time.
References
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Motorsport categories in Australia