Supercars releases new 2020 calendar

Released today, the new calendar carries a few changes from the version released on 17 May, including the removal of rounds at The Bend and Auckland, Sandown regaining its traditional pre-Bathurst slot (but not its enduro status) and a compression of the calendar into the remaining six months of 2020.

The earlier calendar had stretched into 2021, with Auckland and a second round at Bathurst in the new year, but today’s calendar update sees racing conclude in December, with the final round to be held under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMSP). 

SMSP will also host Supercars’ return to racing, with the first race under COVID-19 protocols to be held without spectators at the Sydney circuit on 27-28 June. The return round will be a sprint format, with three 130km races to be held across the two days. Formats for other upcoming rounds will most likely be sprints, too, as every round except Bathurst has also been compressed into two days.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said the update to the calendar has been made following weeks of discussions with key stakeholders including broadcast partners and team owners.
“When the draft calendar was released four weeks ago, our primary objective was to ensure we returned to racing as soon as possible,” Seamer said.
“This allowed us to put a stake in the ground and ensure we returned to the track quickly following the COVID-19 shutdown. The calendar announced in May was based on the best information we had at the time.
“With an eye on 2021, teams and broadcast partners have agreed it is in all parties’ best interests commercially and competitively to finish this year’s campaign in December and start the new season in the New Year.”
All upcoming rounds in this revised calendar remain subject to change, based on appropriate State, Territory and Federal regulations in response to COVID-19.

The Dunlop Super2 Series, which raced at Adelaide, will be the Supercars support category at Winton, Sandown, Mount Panorama and the SMSP finale. Support categories for other rounds are unconfirmed.

 2020 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship calendar – version 3*

 Round   Dates                Event                                        Circuit

Rd01    20-23 Feb         Superloop Adelaide 500             Adelaide street circuit (completed)

Rd02    12-15 Mar         Melbourne 400 – F1 Grand Prix Albert Park (cancelled)

Rd03    27-28 Jun         BP Ultimate Sydney SuperSprint  Sydney Motorsport Park

Rd04    18-19 Jul          Truck Assist Winton                   Winton

Rd05    08-09 Aug         BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown     Hidden Valley

Rd06    29-30 Aug         Townsville                                 Townsville

Rd07    19-20 Sep         Penrite Oil Sandown                  Sandown

Rd08    08-11 Oct          Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama

Rd09    31 Oct–01 Nov  Pirtek Perth                               Barbagallo

Rd10    21-22 Nov         Tyrepower Tasmania                 Symmons Plains

Rd11    12-13 Dec         Sydney                                     Sydney Motorsport Park

 *All events from Rd02 to Rd10 are subject to change

Supercars says details on the championship calendar for 2021 will be released in October.

“As was the plan for 2020 before COVID setbacks, we envisage the 2021 calendar to include a break over winter months,” Seamer added.
“These are challenging times for all sport, which is why we have had to remain flexible with our calendar arrangements and make significant changes to support key stakeholders.
“In 2021 we plan to return to New Zealand, The Bend and street circuits.”

For further updates, go to:https://www.supercars.com/