Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Aussie Racing Cars to require Yamaha MT-09 engines from 2027
Aussie Racing Cars will use only Yamaha MT-09 engines from 2027 in its National Series.
The change ends the use of the older XJR1300, a four-cylinder engine that powered the category for more than 25 years.
The two engines have raced alongside each other this season while teams used up spare parts for the old platform.
Parity concerns arose at Bathurst, where reigning champion Kody Garland withdrew, and the category then carried out substantial testing.
The MT-09 is a smaller, three-cylinder engine with less power, but it is cheaper to buy, lighter and has more readily available rebuild parts.
The switch is intended to address cost and reliability problems linked to the ageing XJR1300.
From the start of the 2027 season, the MT-09 will be the sole eligible engine.
Aussie Racing Cars will make the Yamaha MT-09 the sole eligible engine platform in its National Series from the start of the 2027 season.
The category began a transition to the three-cylinder engine in 2026, while allowing the older XJR1300 to remain in use.
The older 1300cc four-cylinder engine produces more power than the MT-09’s 890cc engine, but the newer unit is cheaper to buy, lighter and has more readily available rebuild parts.
Parity concerns arose at the opening round at Bathurst, and reigning champion Kody Garland withdrew.
The category said the change is intended to provide competitors with a long-term solution as the existing engine platform nears the end of its practical lifespan.
- Who
- Aussie Racing Cars and competitors in its National Series.
- What
- The Yamaha MT-09 will become the sole eligible engine platform. The change takes effect from the start of the 2027 season.
- When
- From the beginning of the 2027 season.
- Where
- The Aussie Racing Cars National Series in Australia.
- Why
- The category said the existing engine platform was nearing the end of its practical lifespan and that the change would offer a long-term solution.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Aussie Racing Cars began moving away from the old engine platform.
Parity concerns arose, and reigning champion Kody Garland withdrew.
The category offered a discount and deposit plan to encourage teams to switch to the newer engine.
The Yamaha MT-09 is due to become the sole eligible engine platform.
- New sole engine
- Yamaha MT-09
- Effective date
- Beginning of the 2027 season
- Older engine
- XJR1300, 1300cc four-cylinder
- New engine
- 890cc three-cylinder
- Parity concern
- Opening round at Bathurst
- Champion who withdrew
- Kody Garland
What people are saying
We are incredibly proud to announce that from the beginning of the 2027 season, the Yamaha MT-09 will become the sole eligible engine platform for the Aussie Racing Cars National Series
The reality was that our existing engine platform was reaching the end of its practical lifespan.
For the past 3–4 years, I’ve been campaigning for the introduction of the MT-09.