The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will be no more from next season as the automotive parts retailer cuts a 16-year stint as the naming rights sponsor of the Mount Panorama enduro.
Instead, competitor Repco is set to take over as the new naming rights sponsor with the retailer coming aboard the Supercars championship on a multi-year deal in August last year.
Reports from News Limited and Motorsport.com have confirmed an official announcement is expected to be made in due course but confirmed Supercheap will no longer sponsor the iconic event.
“We had hoped to continue supporting the iconic Bathurst 1000 event for many more years, but were not in a position to counter big-money offers without a flow on price impact for our loyal Supercheap Auto customers,“ Supercheap managing director Benjamin Ward told News Limited.
“We are disappointed that Supercars Australia chose to offer the event to an overseas competitor, particularly after such a longstanding relationship.
“I can assure our loyal Supercheap Auto customers that while we may not have our name on the Bathurst 1000 race, we will continue to support their automotive passion.”
The event’s first 1000km race was held 1973 with title backing from Hardie-Ferodo until the contentious 1988 race where Tooheys Brewery took over the naming rights. The ’88 race was also the only ever Bathurst 1000 to have a rolling start.
From 1995 to 2001 the race went through three different names with sponsorships from AMP finance, Primus Telecommunications and insurance company FAI.
In 2001 the race was run under the insipid name of V8 Supercar 1000 before renamed the Bob Jane T-Marts 1000 until Supercheap came aboard in 2005.
This year’s Bathurst 1000 is slated for October 8-11.