V8 Supercars series takes first step towards electric power – report

The Supercars racing series is set to move to introduce an electric safety car for the 2024 season.

According to a report from motorsports website Speedcafe, organisers behind the Supercars series – formerly called as V8 Supercars, and best known for its Holden versus Ford rivalry – are currently testing an electric safety car.

The report claims the safety car will likely be a Porsche Taycan, though it's possible Porsche may want to promote its recently-unveiled Macan electric SUV by making it a medical car or other support vehicle, despite it not launching locally until the end of 2024.

A Porsche Taycan has been the official safety car of the Formula E World Championship since 2022.

It could be the first step in the Supercars category moving towards electrification – with the 2020 'Gen3' regulations making provisions for hybrid engines – however that has yet to be implemented.

MORE: Ford motorsport boss weighing up V8 Supercars future

The latest opportunity for Porsche follows bad blood between Ford and category organisers.

It's understood Ford has dramatically scaled back its support for the Supercars series – no longer supplying safety and support cars in 2024, as well as lowering its advertising budget – after clashing with officials throughout 2023 in an effort to close the gap between the Ford Mustang and its rival, the Chevrolet Camaro.

As reported by Drive in October 2023, Ford was close to pulling out of Supercars entirely – almost ending decades of involvement in the country's premier touring car series – though at this time the Blue Oval has yet to officially commit beyond the end of this year's season.

Ford pulling its support for the category has opened the door for Porsche to show off its electric Taycan, which can hit 100km/h from zero in a claimed 2.8 seconds in Turbo S trim, thanks to 560kW/1050Nm in 'overboost' mode, and with a top speed of 260km/h.

Under ECE testing protocols, the Taycan Turbo S has a claimed driving range of up to 482km in mixed driving conditions.