The Virgin Australia Supercars Championship will not visit New Zealand in 2020 after series organisers today confirmed the original revised 13 round calendar has been updated and will have the season now finish under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park in December.
Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said the update to the revised calendar has been made following weeks of discussions with key stakeholders including broadcast partner Fox Sports and team owners.
“When the draft calendar was released four weeks ago, our primary objective was to ensure we returned to racing as soon as possible,” Seamer said.
“This allowed us to put a stake in the ground and ensure we returned to the track quickly following the COVID-19 shutdown.
“The calendar announced in May was based on the best information we had at the time.
“With an eye on 2021, teams and broadcast partners have agreed it is in all parties’ best interests commercially and competitively to finish this year’s campaign in December and start the new season in the New Year.”
Initially slated to end with a second trip to Bathurst in early 2021, the 2020 championship will instead conclude at Sydney Motorsport Park on 12-13 December.
The Sandown event shifts from December to September, returning to its traditional pre-Bathurst calendar position and replaces Tailem Bend which has also been axed from the revised calendar.
2020 marks the first time since 2000 that a round of the Virgin Australian Supercars Championship will not venture to New Zealand.
Deputy Premier of NSW John Barilaro said the revised calendar is a great result for fans of motorsport racing in Australia.
“This is fantastic news for fans of the Australia Supercars Championship who want to see competitive racing and see a result before the end of the calendar year.”
“The Bathurst 1000 is the pinnacle of motorsport racing so to see it remain the showcase event is incredible news for everyone involved.”
“To see the season end under the new $16.4 million lighting at Sydney Motorsport Park will be a blockbuster finish to the year and serve as a chance to showcase the results of the NSW Government’s $33 million investment in the Western Sydney motorsport precinct.”
2020 Revised Supercars Calendar
| Rnd | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide Parklands Circuit | February 20-23 |
| 2 | Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit | March 12-15 |
| 3 | Sydney Motorsport Park | June 27-28 |
| 4 | Winton Motor Raceway | July 18-19 |
| 5 | Hidden Valley Raceway | August 8-9 |
| 6 | Reid Park Street Circuit | August 29-30 |
| 7 | Sandown International Motor Raceway | September 19-20 |
| 8 | Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit | October 8-11 |
| 9 | Wanneroo Raceway | October 31-November 1 |
| 10 | Symmons Plains Raceway | November 21-22 |
| 11 | Sydney Motorsport Park | December 12-13 |