Supercars have moved to prevent a repeat of Kiwi Scott McLaughlin's controversial 2019 Bathurst 1000 win.
The series' governing body could go as far as stripping teams of an entire season's worth of points, as it toughens regulations to ensure penalties fit the crime.
McLaughlin's DJR Team Penske was hit with a record AU$250,000 and a loss of 300 team points, after issuing an illegal directive to teammate Fabian Coulthard to 'go slow' to hold up the field during a safety car period, assisting McLaughlin's bid to win the race.
The incident sparked grid-wide condemnation and the race result was held up, as Supercars officials conducted an internal investigation.
McLaughlin and co-driver Alex Premet risked losing their maiden Bathurst title, but Motorsport Australia chief Eugene Arocca said that type of penalty wasn't within the regulations.
But before the second round of the 2020 season in Melbourne, Supercars head of motorsport Adrian Burgess confirmed the judicial rulebook had been officially changed and stewards were no longer "hemmed in".
"There is now the ability to have a stronger penalty or probably more a penalty that fits the crime outcome," Burgess told news.com.au.
"Last year, the stewards were hemmed in a little bit by the rule book in terms of what they could issue as a penalty, so the reference to 300 points has been removed from the rule book.
"It could be now anything up to your season points could be lost, so the stewards have now got a little bit more latitude to make sure that the punishment fits the crime.
"We still refer back to the [FIA] International Sporting Code in instances worse than that, but we believe now that we can control the outcome that we need through our own rule book and don’t really need to go up a level.
"Now the stewards do have a little more flexibility and more room to make sure the punishment is fitting the crime, where last year we couldn’t."
McLaughlin, who is heavily rumoured to be leaving the series to drive in the US-based IndyCar Championship next year, narrowly leads the 2020 standings after the first round in Adelaide.
