Ultimate guide to 2019 Supercars Supersprint at The Bend
The Supercars are back in SA for the second time this year — and the second time ever at The Bend — for the OTR SuperSprint. Here is all you need to know including drivers, schedule, off-track entertainment, parking and exits, and map.
- Slade ready to excel again at The Bend
- Supercars lap times set to tumble
- Percat primed for podium finish
- Pye hungry for home ground turnaround
- Why Mustangs are Lowndesy’s hot tip
- Bigger, louder, better: The Bend promises more
DRIVERS and punters alike have hailed The Bend Motorsport Park as Australia’s best motorsport facility after the successful inaugural running of the OTR SuperSprint in 2018.
A year on from that first event, the track surface is said to have “matured” — making it even faster — while less construction activity and more grass growing on site also will keep dust down.
The first OTR SuperSprint was dominated by the Red Bull Holden Racing Team drivers Jamie Whincup and Shane van Gisbergen, who took a win each in the two races.
However it also threw up some pleasant results for Nissan, with two of its drivers finishing second and third in the first race.
A crowd of 41,250 over three days witnessed the first running of the state’s newest motorsport event.
Stream over 50 sports live & anytime on your TV or favourite device with KAYO SPORTS. The biggest Aussie sports and the best from overseas. Just $25/month. No lock-in contract. Get your 14 day free trial >
THE TRACK
Supercars will race on the park’s international circuit, one of several that can be created from the 7.77km long GT Circuit that has been built at the complex located just outside of River Murray town Tailem Bend.
The 4.95km circuit features 18 corners and an aggregate rise and fall of 85 metres, with last year’s average speed for Supercars of 161km/h, topping at 270km/h along the pit straight.
The current race lap record is held by Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup at 1:50.5833.
Two races will be held over the weekend — the first being a 24-lap race held late Saturday afternoon, the second a 41-lap race held early on Sunday afternoon, following Supercars’ SuperSprint format. Supercars will race clockwise.
DRIVERS AND CARS
STATS THAT MATTER
The OTR SuperSprint has had two race winners for its two races held in the inaugural round in 2018.
Only one driver has started on pole position — Red Bull Holden Racing Team’s Jamie Whincup gained both poles last year.
28 Supercars drivers lined up on the grid in the first year, which included two one-off wildcard entries.
Of the full-time drivers who raced last year, two will not race in 2019 — Craig Lowndes and Garth Tander, who both finished full-time driving at the end of last season.
Eleven Supercars drivers have finished all 20 championship races held so far this season.
Five support categories will again provide the undercard to the Supercars show — Carrera Cup Australia, Super3, and Aussie Racing Cars will return; Historic Touring Cars and Radical Australia Cup will debut.
ODDS
OTR Supersprint Race 1 winner
Scott McLaughlin $2.20
Shane van Gisbergen $5.50
Jamie Whincup $6
Chaz Mostert $7
Fabian Coulthard $10
David Reynolds, Will Davison $11
Cameron Waters, Lee Holdsworth $29
Anton Pasquale $41
Mark Winterbottom, Nick Percat, Tim Slade $51
TICKETS
General admission, single or three-day grandstand seating, Accessible Platform, Park n’ View, OTR SuperDeck and Fox Sports Bar tickets are available through Outix via thebend.com.au. Prices start at $35 for adults and $30 concession on Friday, while a three-day general admission ticket costs $129 for adults and $109 for concession, the latter of which is unchanged from 2019.
WEATHER
SUPERCARS SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, AUGUST 23
8:00-8:20 Historic Touring Cars, 20 mins, Practice 1
8:30-8:50 Radical Australia, 20 mins, Practice 1
9:00-9:20 Super3 Series, 20 mins, Practice 1
9:30-9:50 Aussie Racing Cars, 20 mins, Practice
10:00-10:25 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, 25 mins, Practice 1
10:45-11:15 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, 30 mins, Additional Drivers Practice
11:30-11:50 Historic Touring Cars, 20 mins, Practice 2
12:00-12:20 Radical Australia, 20 mins, Practice 2
12:35-12:55 Super3 Series, 20 mins, Practice 2
13:10-13:40 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, 30 mins, Practice 1
13:55-14:15 Aussie Racing Cars, 20 mins, Qualifying
14:30-14:55 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, 25 mins, Practice 2
15:05-15:25 Super3 Series, 20 mins, Qualifying
15:40-16:10 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, 30 mins, Practice 2
16:25-16:45 Historic Touring Cars, 20 mins, Qualifying
16:55-17:20 Radical Australia, 20 mins, Qualifying
SATURDAY AUGUST 24
8:25-8:45 Historic Touring Cars, Race 1, 7 laps
8:55-9:15 Super3 Series, Race 1, 7 laps
9:25-9:45 Aussie Racing Cars, Race 1, 7 laps
10:00-10:30 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, 30 mins, Practice 3
10:55-11:15 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, 20 mins, Qualifying
11:25-11:45 Historic Touring Cars, Race 2, 7 laps
12:00-12:20 Super3 Series, Race 2, 8 laps
12:35-13:15 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Qualifying, Race 21 (3 Parts), 40 mins
13:40-14:00 Aussie Racing Cars, Race 2, 7 laps
14:15-14:40 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, Race 1, 10 laps
15:25-16:20 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Race 21, 24 laps
16:40-17:30 Radical Australia, Race 1, 23 laps
SUNDAY AUGUST 25
8:25-8:45 Aussie Racing Cars, Race 3, 7 laps
9:00-9:30 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Practice 4, 30 mins
09:50-10:35 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, Race 2, 21 laps
10:50-11:30 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Qualifying Race 22 (3 Parts), 40 mins
11:50-12:15 Super3 Series, Race 3, 10 laps
12:30-12:55 Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, Race 3, 11 laps
13:40-15:05 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship, Race 22, 41 laps
15:25-15:45 Aussie Racing Cars, Race 4, 7 laps
15:55-16:15 Historic Touring Cars, Race 3, 7 laps
16:25-17:15 Radical Australia, Race 2, 23 laps
TV GUIDE
Watch practice, qualifying and racing live on Fox Sports channel 506, beginning on Friday at 10am, Saturday at 8.25am and Sunday at 7.55am (SA time).
Stream live on Kayo Sports Get your 14 day free trial here >
Highlights will be shown on free-to-air TV on Ten Bold (Channel One) between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Saturday and 8.30pm to 9.30pm on Sunday; as well as Channel 10 between 11.30pm and 12.30am on Saturday and 4pm and 5pm on Sunday.
ENTERTAINMENT AND ATTRACTIONS
The Tailem Bend Street Party will be held Thursday evening, featuring car displays, stalls, music, and drivers Scott McLaughlin, van Gisbergen, Mark Winterbottom, Rick Kelly and South Aussie favourites Tim Slade and Todd Hazelwood. They will do signings from 5.30-6.30pm.
Saturday night concert — AC/DC tribute band Back in Black will perform alongside local group Eleven.
General admission ticket holders can buy a $10 pass to access the Welcome Centre. Limited tickets are available.
Red Bull Air Race pilot Matt Hall will provide an aerobatic display.
The drift track will feature Holden ace Shane van Gisbergen alongside 30 drifters on Friday night in a supercharged Monaro.
Go-kart track will be open with karts available to hire during all three days.
Rally rides also will be available.
TRANSPORT AND PARKING
Free onsite parking is available for ticket holders.
By car, head on the South East Freeway and the Princes Hwy (M1) towards Mt Barker, but stay on the highway (A1) through Tailem Bend. The A1 turns into the Dukes Highway (A8). Follow the signs and the traffic to the public entrance.
To exit the event, there will be an additional two exits on to the Dukes Highway, as well as an additional temporary lane on the main exit from the track so that traffic can merge more easily. Eastbound traffic will have its own exit for the first time.
There is also a new backroads exit, which will link with the town of Tailem Bend directly from the north of the park.
The SeaLink Shuttle bus costs $39 return from Adelaide and $34 return from Mount Barker or Murray Bridge each day.
A three-day return ticket costs $79.
Adelaide Depart 7:30am — Arrival 9:00am
Pick Up/Drop Off Point: Adelaide Central Bus Station
Mount Barker Depart 7:45am — Arrive 9:00am
Pick Up/Drop Off Point: Rexel Electrical Supplies, 20 Mount Barker Road, Mount Barker
Murray Bridge Depart 8:30am — Arrive 9:00am
Pick Up/Drop Off Point: OTR, 177-181 Adelaide Road Murray Bridge
WHAT YOU CAN’T BRING
Patrons may not, without prior written consent from The Bend Motorsport Park bring any of the following items onto the site or into the event:
— alcoholic beverages
— glass bottles or containers (excluding medical items)
— glass objects (excluding sunglasses, binoculars and prescription glasses)
— any beverage container with the seal broken
— any hard drink coolers, eskys or ice boxes
— any structure or item that may be used to erect a structure or which is capable of supporting the weight of a person
— any chairs, lounges, benches or stools (other than folding chairs or stools)
— animals (other than assistance dogs)
— weapons of any kind
— laser pointers
— fireworks, flares or explosives
— commercial, political, religious or offensive signs, banners, clothing or any other items displaying such messages
— any other items which could reasonably be deemed to cause public nuisance or offence to any other patron or could be used to disrupt or interrupt the event, hinder, obstruct or interfere with any driver taking part in the event, adversely affect public safety