Speedworks are aiming to have a round of its Summer Series run on the same program as Supercars when the International series crosses the Tasman for the revised Auckland ITM SuperSprint round on January 9-10.
Currently, there is no firm confirmation of the whether Supercars will run the round from Hampton Downs as previously planned or return to Pukekohe Park.
With no public holiday issue preventing the round from occurring at Pukekohe Park in January, it is extremely plausible to suggest the series could seek to return to its traditional home.
However, a round of the 2021 Speedworks Summer Series has already been confirmed and permitted to go ahead on the same weekend from Hampton Downs.
Responsible for the running of New Zealand’s premier motorsport championships, including the Toyota Racing Series, Speedworks traditionally sees its Summer Series run across five successive weekends in early January and February.
Ultimately, this double-booking causes a unique predicament, especially if Supercars decide to return the race to Pukekohe Park.
However, speaking with Speedworks Managing Director Geoff Short today, Velocity News now understands that no round of the Summer Series will go ahead on the January 9-10 weekend unless the two events are run together.
“We [Speedworks] have spoken to Supercars this afternoon and they are still in the preliminary stages of planning the event.
“However, they now do understand that we have an event at the same time.
“Look, there is no way we will go ahead with two different events. Motorsport New Zealand will not allow it and there is also the issue with not enough marshals and officials to cover both.”
The situation does provide the opportunity to see both New Zealand and Australia’s premier motorsport events amalgamate into one spectacular weekend.
However, with the Supercars weekend being reduced to only two full days of track time, it problematises the idea of how many support categories can be placed on the schedule.
Nonetheless, Short did mention that both parties are in discussion to see if the two can co-exist on the same weekend at the same venue.
“Both parties [Supercars and Speedworks] are keen to discuss their options so we will wait and see.
“But it would make sense to have a round of the summer series run together.”
The revised New Zealand round of the Supercars championship is slated to go ahead on January 9-10 and will act as the penultimate event on the calendar.
The season is scheduled to return behind closed doors from Sydney Motorsport Park from June 27.
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