Superloop 500 postponed for 2021 as coronavirus uncertainty makes race a risk
Adelaide has surrendered its coveted V8 race season opener, with the lead-in time to get temporary facilities built making next year’s event too risky amid pandemic uncertainty. Poll: Should it move to The Bend permanently?
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Adelaide has surrendered its coveted season-starting V8 race round for 2021, a victim of organising problems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Superloop Adelaide 500 takes a lead time of three months to build temporary grandstand and corporate facilities, beginning well before the end of the year ahead of the traditional 4-day event in late February/early March.
But uncertainty could have meant the event was cancelled at any point during the expensive build process, incurring huge losses.
The South Australian Tourism Commission yesterday contacted race series operators Supercars and surrendered its rights to the event, and The Advertiser understands as compensation will lobby for the equally prized closing round, held in November/December.
“Our world-class street circuit requires significant planning and temporary infrastructure to operate successfully,’’ executive director Events SA Hitaf Rasheed told The Advertiser.
“Our event-build is one of the largest in the state and comes with considerable risk and reward.
“Top of mind for us, is our many suppliers and stakeholders who will soon start making huge investments into the event, both time and money, and we want the best result for them as well as our loyal fans.
“We are working with Supercars on revised dates for the 2021 event and looking to have this resolved in time for their calendar release, currently planned for the back half of October.”
SATC will make the announcement on thee $45 million event today, likely to be followed by other temporary street circuits being pushed back until later in the year for the same reason.
Supercars ceo Sean Seamer supported the SA decision.
“This is one of the showpiece events on our calendar and we agree, at this current time, with the planning and infrastructure required it would not be viable to run an event of that size and scale in February,’’ he said.
The Adelaide event has been Supercars’ season opener every year since 2002, bar two years when the first races were held overseas instead.
A change in date on the calendar was mooted for this year, as Supercars had been investigating a proposed January start to the 2020 season.
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That time of year was deemed as likely to be too hot for drivers and spectators and would conflict with other South Australian events such as the Tour Down Under.
The Adelaide races are Supercars most attended event, and despite the total attendance falling to 206,350 this year – its lowest number since 2002 – it still attracted more fans than the 2019 Bathurst 1000 (201,975).
Meanwhile, it is understood the upcoming Supercars races at The Bend Motorsport Park later this month will take place on two of its eight circuit configurations.
For the past two years, drivers have raced on its 4.95km International circuit, which will again be used for the first weekend of racing on September 19 and 20.
But for the second weekend of racing on September 26 and 27, the 3.41km West circuit will be used, which has six less corners.
Also announced yesterday, auto parts giant Repco will be the major sponsor the second round of racing at The Bend, while OTR will be the sponsor for the first weekend.
The Bend is lobbying for 10,000 fans each day to be set as a COVID-19 cap, but a final decision has not yet been made by authorities.
