![\"Supercars](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/2026_NETWORKR_R1_SMSP_1.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBroc Feeney pours water over himself following Race 3 of the Dunlop Sydney 500. Image: Network R\/Matthew Christie<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBroc Feeney pours water over himself following Race 3 of the Dunlop Sydney 500. Image: Network R\/Matthew Christie<\/p>\n
The championship has warned teams of the impending change to the regulations which will be in place from the Hidden Valley event onwards.<\/p>\n
Driver welfare was thrust into the spotlight at this year\u2019s Sydney 500 season opener when Broc Feeney, Will Brown and David Reynolds suffered malfunctioning cool suits.<\/p>\n
Brown and Reynolds were both admitted to the medical centre in the aftermath<\/a>, while the former was again required to attend medical after a similar failure at Taupo.<\/p>\n Previously, Supercars rules required \u201cone or more\u201d of the three stated cooling methods (helmet air, seat air and cool suit) to be operational when the ambient forecast is above 32.9 degrees.<\/p>\n As detailed in the below updated regulation sent to teams this week, both the helmet air and cool suit will be mandatory when the heat policy is active.<\/p>\n A specific temperature requirement is now also in play, replacing the previous policy requiring \u201ca temperature lower than the ambient temperature surrounding the car\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe driver\u2019s cooling system must be able to reduce the driver\u2019s body core temperature using both methods listed below operating independently of each other,\u201d reads the updated rule.<\/p>\n \u201cA) Supplying a constant stream of air to the driver\u2019s helmet at a temperature lower than 25\u00b0C, monitored and recorded by the systems in accordance with Rule C15.<\/p>\n \u201cb) Supply a flow of water to the driver\u2019s cool suit vest at a temperature lower than 25\u00b0C, monitored and recorded by the systems in accordance with Rule C15.\u201d<\/p>\n Rule C15 details the operation of the sensors on the cars that allow Supercars officials to monitor temperate readings in real time.<\/p>\n No teams were deemed to have breached the rules following the dramatic scenes at the end of the Sunday race in Sydney.<\/p>\n Team 18, however, was fined $1000 for not having any cooling system operational during Anton De Pasquale\u2019s pole-winning run in the Top 10 Shootout.<\/p>\n With the team having elected not to run a cool suit for the single lap, there had been no secondary system in play when the car\u2019s cool air stream failed to work.<\/p>\n Supercars can force a team to pit a car if its driver cooling systems are not working, as it did with Cam Waters at the 2019 Adelaide 500.<\/p>\n Mark Webber lends helping hand to Supercars champ<\/a><\/p>\n