The Supercars are set to skip New Zealand for the second time in as many years as the latest wave of Covid-19 cases ravage Australia.
VelocityNews understands that the series is set to formally confirm its new calendar later this week, with Pukekohe Park missing out. Auckland had been set to host the series on November 6-7.
The news was broken yesterday by Speedcafe.com; the outlet citing prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s tough Covid-19 stance and its state-based travel-bubble structure. Most notably, the Trans-tasman bubble that’s currently set to close on September 18.
Since the story first broke, series leader Shane van Gisbergen appears to have confirmed the news on Instagram.
“Another year of no Supercars in NZ. Gutting. Racing as a kiwi at Pukekohe is the best feeling as a driver. I miss it that’s for sure,” said the Kiwi.
New Zealand has not held a round of the Supercars since 2019, after Covid-19 also wreaked havoc on the 2020 series calendar.
It’s tipped that the new Supercars calendar will also see Queensland Raceway’s August meeting and the much anticipated Perth SuperNight event shelved.
The series will instead have a break until October, when it will finally take on Winton Raceway in Victoria.
This will reportedly be followed by the Bathurst 1000, an event at Sydney Motorsport Park, and then the series finale on the streets of the Gold Coast.
