V8 Supercars 2021: Sydney SuperNight postponed as city wrestles with Covid outbreak

Sydney’s escalating Covid outbreak has claimed a major night motor racing spectacle, with the event at Sydney Motorsport Park possibly rescheduled for later in the year.

The Covid outbreak in Sydney has forced Supercars to postpone the Sydney SuperNight, which was scheduled to begin at Sydney Motorsport Park (SMP) on August 20.

As revealed by the News Corp last week, Supercars have activated a Covid-19 back-up plan to ensure a full season of racing goes ahead.

With SMP ruled out as a venue for at least six weeks, Supercars are hoping to be able to reschedule the event for later in the year.

While there are hopes that SMP will host the make-up round, the sport also has the ability to shift the event to another non Covid-affected venue.

Supercars confirmed the SMP SuperNight would be postponed in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.

Shane van Gisbergen powers his way around the Townsville circuit, where racing returns this weekend. Picture: Getty Images

“Supercars advises that the Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight, scheduled for 20-22 August will be moved to later in the year,” the statement read.

“Due to current and evolving Covid-19 restrictions, Supercars has determined a later date

will provide a safe and preferable event experience for Supercars teams, spectators and

officials.

“All other events scheduled on the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship calendar will

proceed as scheduled.

“Tickets purchased for the event will remain valid for the new running dates, which will be

announced soon.”

The season will continue in Townsville this weekend with the second leg of a Covid-forced double header.

Alternative venue in mix as virus takes hold

Supercars staff have begun internal discussions as the organisation investigates the possibility of hosting back-to-back rounds of the series in Townsville over the next fortnight.

With the Covid outbreak in Sydney worsening over the weekend, Supercars bosses have laid the groundwork to host further events in virus-free cities.

That includes Townsville which will host the annual NTI Townsville 500 this weekend.

But the Reid Park circuit could host a second round of Supercars action next weekend, to help fill broadcasters’ quotas with clouds of uncertainty hanging over the next event at Sydney Motorsport Park.

It is understood there is an internal feeling at Supercars that the organisation needs to make the most of its northern leg of the tour.

Townsville hosted back-to-back weekends of Supercars action last year during a Covid-affected series.

Scott McLaughlin drives the #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang during race 22 at the Townsville SuperSprint round of the 2020 Supercars Championship. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

It is unclear whether Supercars have reached out to event partners Townsville Enterprise Limited or Townsville City Council to discuss the possibility of hosting a second event in the region.

It is understood the second event would likely be held in a supersprints format with three races over the weekend.

A lack of accommodation in the Townsville region could be one of the major factors in whether the event goes ahead with teams from Melbourne needing to stay in the region for the added week.

Supercars. Townsville SuperSprint. Saturday September5. Anton De Pasquale. Picture: Evan Morgan

Supercars is expected to make a final decision on this weekend’s Townsville 500 today, which will be all system’s go after last week’s lockdown in North Queensland was lifted on Friday.

Drivers and teams in Victoria are still on amber alert, which means they may have to quarantine on their return to the region, but it is expected those restrictions will ease this week.

Drivers are not expected to arrive in Townsville until at least Wednesday.

Originally published as V8 Supercars 2021: Sydney SuperNight postponed as city wrestles with Covid outbreak