Supercars is set to make further changes to its reworked 2020 schedule which could see the New Zealand round scrubbed.
The series had recently unveiled its revised 2020 schedule featuring 12 rounds in total. Two of these rounds – New Zealand and Bathurst – were scheduled to take place in early 2021.
However, this is likely to change as part of a significant shake-up to the revised calendar.
It is understood that the trip across the Tasman is likely to be called off altogether, while the Bathurst plan is expected to morph into an alternative that will still satisfy the category’s agreement with the New South Wales state government to host a marquee season finale.
A second round at Sydney Motorsport Park held under lights has been touted as a likely solution.
Earlier this year, SMP installed a new permanent lighting system allowing for night racing, year-round. The series was originally meant to make use of these facilities in a night round in August.
However, work on the lighting system is yet to finish, and so the prospect of using the lights for the season-opener at the end of this month is unattainable.
A second trip to Sydney to close the season under lights could therefore give the project a grand opening while also appeasing the NSW government deal regarding the final round.
Finishing the season in 2021 was always set to be complicated, given the majority of driver and sponsor contracts end on December 31.
Supercars CEO Sean Seamer acknowledged the complications contracts could have on the series.
“We’ve got the piece of work as far as we possibly can collaboratively with the state governments and our broadcast partners.
“Now we’re expanding our group of partners to enable us to go ahead and lock down the rest of this championship. There’s only so much you can do in the background and behind closed doors. This weekend we’re coming out from behind closed doors to work with the broader ecosystem on delivery the championship.”
Seamer also conceded that further changes to the schedule could still take place.
“The first thing I’d say is that this schedule is subject to change, so don’t get hung up on the number of rounds that are shown here.
“This is a fixed stake in the ground that we can now move forward on, and we all need to be flexible on how much racing we can and can’t do over the coming eight months. That’s no different to any other sport.”