IRC SD class gaining momentum
The Australian Innovation Race Car Series introduced the SD class at the start of the 2026 season; it is proving to be a success with extremely positive feedback and steadily growing grids.
The Australian IRC Series was originally a Pro-Am only series built for the ‘amateur’ racers, however many youngsters wanted to have a steer in the category due to its relevance and affordability.
In response the owners of the series designed an IRC model that had all the aids stripped away including traction control and ABS, and also removed some of the aerodynamic bodywork. The new car designed for up and coming drivers is titled the Super Development, or SD for short.
This car is for young drivers attempting to make a career in motorsport and has already seen drivers from Porsche Carrera Cup Australia , Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia and Toyota GR Cup compete within the class.
At the most recent round of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series reigning Carrera Cup Australia champion and former Supercars co-driver Dylan O’Keeffe raced an SD sharing the driving duties with Toyota 86 driver AJ Giddy.
“From the outside you'd assume it's like a mini V8 Supercar, which it kind of is,” O’Keeffe recalled. “I think it's a great formula and deserves more recognition than it gets.
“I had an absolute blast up there when I raced at Queensland Raceway, the SD car is quite cool.
“It’s a slightly more basic Gen3 car, but it’s really cost-effective, which is not too common in motorsport at the moment.
“It rewards the fundamentals, with no traction control, no ABS, no driver aids, it's a great place to start, the cars perform and do everything that you'd expect.”
Another factor that makes the IRC SD class affordable for a young driver is that they are able to share the driving duties and therefore share the cost.
It also gives the youngster an opportunity to learn, share data and be coached over a weekend from a experienced and established driver such as O’Keeffe.
Multiple-time Carrera Cup Series winner Harri Jones has also stepped into this role alongside youngster Hunter Robb.
“It’s pretty cost-effective as you can share the car across the weekend,” O’Keeffe explained. “So, me and AJ Giddy shared it in Queensland.
“Going into it I didn’t know how it really worked, but essentially, you get a practice session each, qualifying session each, sprint race each, and then the two endurance races in which you share the car. So, all in all, you get really good mileage.
“As a young kid trying to start out and drive something serious, like AJ jumping out of 86s it's a fair step up, it's a good way to do it, and a good way to get young kids in the category.
“The SD class and racing within IRC is a good place to learn for someone like AJ who has never worked with another driver, needed to do a pit stop or driver change, practice pit entries and pit exits.
“These are things that drivers might not get to experience until maybe the 6 Hour or 12 Hour, so those fundamentals are good to learn in a low-pressure environment. Now he's starting to think about it when he goes onto other things.
“For youngsters looking to make a career in motorsport it's crucial to learn, because these things can bring your race undone.”
O’Keeffe expressed that he loved his time in the Australian Innovation Race Cars Series and that he may be back in the future.
“I was a late addition at Queensland, but the reason I did it was because Carrera Cup had a big mid-season break after the first round,” he said.
“For now, it's a one-off, but you know things in motorsport move quickly, I wouldn't count myself out, I’d be more than willing to do it again.”
The next event for the Australian IRC Series takes place at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 17-18, as part of the third round of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, the Sydney Sunset Showdown.