A CHAOTIC four-hour period at the Darwin Triple Crown in which not one, but two substitute drivers were required on short notice has put a recurring Supercars question back in the spotlight.

That is, whether the championship needs to formally mandate teams have a reserve driver on-hand at events.

There remains some resistance within the paddock to such a notion, particularly around cost – noting how the category has been trying to crack down on items such as when crew members can begin setting up at events, as part of the effort to save teams from themselves.

The sensibility of having potentially underprepared drivers thrown into the show has also been raised, granted Todd Hazelwood and Mark Winterbottom acquitted themselves very respectably.

Hazelwood, who filled in for Brodie Kostecki in Dick Johnson Racing’s #17, noted that bigger picture changes amid a broader sporting movement surrounding athlete welfare may force a rethink.

The Undercut – How hot is too hot?

The Undercut is back for another week, downloading a hot weekend in the Top End for Supercars!

Within Australian motorsport, concussion rules involving a 14-day exclusion period were introduced last year, and heat stress has now become a focal point. Supercars implemented new driver cooling rules in May which have since been bolstered, and teams have been advised on prevention/management protocols prior to Townsville.

“The chat that’s going on with that, that might have to enforce teams to start thinking about a reserve driver role,” Hazelwood said on The Undercut.

“But I think it certainly doesn’t need to have the same tacky vibe that say a Formula 1 reserve driver has where you’re basically standing at the pits like a lost soul all weekend pretending that you’re going to be driving a race car. I don’t think we should be going down that hard.

“I think be aware of the situation, like I knew Brodie was ill but never thought I’d be jumping in the car. At least I was there, ready and able to do the job.

Todd Hazelwood. Pic: Supplied/Mark Horsburgh

“I think most co-drivers with most teams now are sort of travelling around with the circus to some degree, whether it’s in support categories or other commitments within the sport, everyone is pretty proactive.

“So watch this space, I guess.

“But I think it will probably be more governed if the rules start to change, and that will probably move the goalposts on what teams have to do.”

Hazelwood and Winterbottom were at Hidden Valley on Trans Am and television duties, respectively.