Supercars are reportedly set to release an amended 2020 Championship Calendar on May 18.
The Championship entered a coronavirus-induced suspension following the cancellation of the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 back in March and has already witnessed rounds in Tasmania, New Zealand and Perth postponed.
Series CEO Sean Seamer has acknowledged that a resumption of racing could go ahead in June at the earliest, with reports now suggestion that a fully revised calendar will be released within the next week.
Domestic Australian Sport has already seen the return of pre-season training with revised competitions slated to begin as early as late May behind closed doors and it is expected Supercars will follow a similar notion.
Whether a revised New Zealand round will feature on the calendar also remains in doubt, though news outlet Speedcafe.com have reported a round at Hampton Downs is expected to stay on the calendar.
However, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced last week that any trans-Tasman bubble is “some time away” and is aimed at allowing both economies to recover from the financial aftershocks of Covid-19.
Whether Supercars will be willing to spend vast sums of money on travel to New Zealand for a race held behind closed doors remains in question. Similarly, anyone travelling between countries may still have to self-isolate for 14 days, especially in the early stages of New Zealand opening up its borders.
Though it could be that Supercars look to reschedule the round in the latter half of 2020 to nullify these predicaments.
When and where the championship does return, Seamer has said Supercars will likely look a lot different concerning race formats and dates.
Ideas have even been mooted to have the 2020 championship run into the early months of 2021 to ensure a full 14-round calendar can be held.
As have plans for mid-week races, twilight start times and shorter sprint formats, though nothing has been confirmed.
“As I’m sure you can imagine, we’ve got a range of different scenarios that we’re working through,” Seamer told Speedcafe.com.
“Ultimately, we will adhere to the governance and guidelines set out.
“The Commission will make a final call on the formats of the races once we’ve locked down the calendar.
“Everything’s on the table, as I’m sure you can imagine.
“Ultimately, the formats of the races will be a combination of what the teams are able to deliver and turn around their cars with, from a damage and wear and tear point of view, in conjunction with what our broadcast partners are looking for and making sure that they fit in with what is going to be quite a busy back half of the year with sport.”
