Supercars, Superbikes to combine for Phillip Island event

The Repco Supercars Championship will return to the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit for the first time in more than two years this October, joined by the Mi-Bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship for the ‘Bass Coast Festival of Motorsport’.

Hosted by the Australian Grand Prix Corporation (AGPC), the ‘Bunnings Trade Phillip Island SuperSprint’ will be the headline act at the festival, which is scheduled for 23-24 October.

The Bass Coast Festival of Motorsport will be the first event the AGPC has run since the 2019 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix. The 2020 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix and 2020 Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix were scrapped and both this year’s F1 and MotoGP events cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Supercars confirmed on 5 August that it will head to the seaside circuit this October for the ninth stop in their rescheduled calendar. 

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said that Supercars fans and drivers absolutely love the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, so it’s exciting to be getting back there for the first time in more than two years.

“I want to thank the Victorian Government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation for working with us to deliver what’s sure to be an outstanding event in October,” expressed Seamer.

The Bass Coast Festival of Motorsport will also serve as the fifth round of the Mi-Bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship, one week after the fourth round at Wakefield Park in New South Wales. 

While the Bass Coast Festival of Motorsport, like all upcoming rounds, remains subject to COVID-19 developments, if the event goes ahead, it’ll be the second time that the Australian Superbikes race alongside the Supercars series in 2021, following the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway in June.

According to Motorcycling Australia CEO Peter Doyle, that cross-over event with Supercars worked really well. 

“This is a fantastic initiative of AGPC and the Victorian Government to get this event off the ground and will no doubt be a fantastic event for both two- and four-wheel race fans,” said Doyle.

Also on the menu for the blockbuster October weekend is the Porsche Carrera Cup, with more support categories to be added.

2021 Repco Supercars Championship remaining rounds (as of 5/8/21)*

Round 8: Winton SuperSprint - 2-3 October†

Round 9: Bunnings Trade Phillip Island SuperSprint - 23-24 October

Round 10: Repco Bathurst 1000 - 4-7 November†

Round 11: Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight - 19-21 November†

Round 12: Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 - 3-5 December†

* subject to change

† includes Dunlop Super2 series

Words & Photos: Russell Colvin