NIGHT RACE, NEW TRACK FOR SUPERCARS 2018

Supercars has released their full calendar for 2018, with changes for the upcoming 16-round season including the first night race in 20 years, the debut of a new track and championship status for the support card slot at the Australian Formula One Grand Prix.

The night race will be a 300km event at Sydney Motorsport Park on the evening of 4 August; the first time since 1997 that the category has held a points-scoring night race.

The new track is The Bend Motorsport Park in Tailem Bend, South Australia; a $110 million facility, currently under construction, that will host national and international level motorsport events, as well as club-level racing, driver training and ‘drive experience’ events. Total track length at The Bend is 7.77 kilometres, but Supercars will race on the 4.9km ‘International Circuit’ that features 18 turns.

“Tailem Bend will be a premier motor racing circuit in Australasia and one we are delighted to be making our debut at in August as part of an initial four-year deal,” said Supercars CEO, James Warburton.

Starting at the traditional Adelaide 500 on 1-4 March, the 2018 calendar goes to the Australian F1 Grand Prix at Albert Park on 22-25 March, where Supercars will race for championship points for the first time.

“Competing for Championship points for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix has been a long-term goal for our sport and we are honoured to be able to do so on such an international stage,” Warburton said on 4 October, less than a fortnight before announcing he was leaving Supercars after four years in the CEO role.

International dates on the calendar are restricted to New Zealand for now, but a race in Singapore is rumoured for 2019, along with dates in other Asian countries in the years to come.

Supercars 2018 calendar

Rd.01 1-4 MAR* Adelaide 500 (Adelaide street circuit)

Rd.02 22-25 MAR Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix (Albert Park)

Rd.03 6-8 APR* Tasmania SuperSprint (Symmons Plains)

Rd.04 20-22 APR Phillip Island 500 (Phillip Island)

Rd.05 4-6 MAY* Perth SuperSprint (Barbagallo Raceway)

Rd.06 18-20 MAY Winton SuperSprint (Winton Motor Raceway)

Rd.07 15-17 JUN Darwin Triple Crown (Hidden Valley Raceway)

Rd.08 6-8 JUL Townsville 400 (Reid Park)

Rd.09 20-22 JUL Ipswich SuperSprint (Queensland Raceway)

Rd.10 4 AUG Sydney SuperNight 300 (Sydney Motorsport Park)

Rd.11 24-26 AUG The Bend SuperSprint (The Bend Motorsport Park)