Bathurst 1000: Supercars race to take place on November 4 after deal reached

It took a payment of at least $100,000 for Australia’s iconic motor race to be saved — and an emergency meeting. This is how it went down.

The man behind the Bathurst 1000 blocking event agreed to relinquish his contractual control over Mount Panorama after the Bathurst council agreed to underwrite his event with a six-figure payment.

Australia’s greatest car race was saved on Friday after Bathurst council called an emergency meeting to resolve the dispute that threatened to rob both its region and a nation of the Bathurst 1000.

News Corp can reveal the owner of the “Bathurst Challenge” agreed to release his exclusive two week hold on Mount Panorama after the local council agreed to underwrite his event for an undisclosed figure which is believe to be at least $100,000.

Mayor of Bathurst Ian North confirmed the Bathurst 1000 and the Bathurst Challenge would go ahead as previously planned with the Supercars run event to begin on November 4.

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This year’s Bathurst 1000 has been saved. Picture: Getty Images

“Council has held extensive discussions with both partners and is pleased to be able to announce that an agreement has been reached so that both events can proceed at Mount Panorama in November,” North said.

“As the owner of the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, one of the most iconic race tracks in the world, Council wanted to ensure both events went ahead and has been instrumental in bringing about a resolution between all parties so this could occur.”

“The Council, and indeed the community, look forward to the return of motor racing at Mount Panorama this year and we are hopeful that we will also be able to welcome motorsport fans to the mountain for the Repco Bathurst 1000.

“Motorsports bring an economic boost to Bathurst and the surrounding region. Local businesses have been heavily impacted by the dramatic drop of tourism to regional areas in recent months and we look forward to both these event going ahead.”

The owner of the amateur event that was blocking the Bathurst 1000 because of an exclusion clause that gave him right to Mount Panorama for the two weeks preceding the Bathurst Challenge agreed to relinquish his exclusive right.

Competitors race at the Bathurst Challenge in 2019.

“The Challenge Bathurst team respects and understands the difficulties created for the Bathurst Regional Council by the rescheduling preferences of the Bathurst 1000,” Greg Evans said.

“For the benefit of all parties, the Bathurst community and motorsport fans, we will now shift our focus and energies on every element critical to the viability of our event along with accommodating their event”.

Supercars boss Sean Seamer credited the Bathurst council for ensuring the Bathurst 1000 would not be cancelled for the first time in its 61-year history.

“We’re glad to see that common sense has prevailed and we thank the Bathurst Regional Council for their support to insure the Great Race date is confirmed for 4-7 November,” Seamer said.

“This is a win for the city of Bathurst along with our fans around the world.”

SUPERCARS LEGEND’S PLEA TO SAVE BATHURST

Mark Skaife has urged the owner of the Bathurst 1000 blocking event to put his personal interests aside and allow the Supercars showpiece to go ahead for the good of the nation.

In an impassioned plea to save Australia’s greatest car race – which is in doubt because of a contract dispute – the V8 legend called on “Bathurst Challenge” owner Greg Evans to sign off on the Covid-revised Bathurst 1000 date.

Evans, a car enthusiast who runs a V8 ride company, could force the Bathurst 1000 to be cancelled for the first time in its 61-year-history after booking the famous track for two consecutive weekends, even though his event runs over one weekend.

Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes won the 2010 Bathurst title.

“The Bathurst 1000 is one of the most important events in Australian sport,” Skaife said.

“The anti-siphoning free-to-air regulation lists the events of national significance and Bathurst is firmly on that list. It is a stop the nation day in Australian sport. For an individual to put that in doubt is unthinkable. I would like to think he would be doing everything in his power to find an amicable resolution.”

With a contract that gives him exclusive rights to Mount Panorama for not only the weekend of his event, but also the one before, Evans has so far refused to allow Supercars and Bathurst council to do a deal for the Bathurst 1000 to be held, beginning November 4.

Supercars have an agreement with Bathurst council to run the Bathurst 1000 on the weekend proceeding the “enthusiast” event but can’t sign off without permission from Evans.

After initially demanding and then refusing a $100,000 compensation fee, Evans allegedly told Supercars that no deal would be done.

But, following public pressure and government intervention, Evans has agreed to a meeting which could save the national event.

Supercars officials reopened negotiation with Evans on Thursday afternoon and are now hopeful of a favourable resolution.

“It would be unthinkable not to have Bathurst this year,” Skaife said.

Skaife enjoyed plenty of success at Mt Panorama.

“We are in a time in our history when sport is more important than ever. Other than us being at war, the coronavirus is an unprecedented crisis and people need an escape. We saw the positive effects of sport throughout the Olympics. This event means so much to lots of people, not just here but in other parts of the world.

“Everything needs to be done to ensure it goes ahead.”

Supercars sources have revealed that their only option will be to cancel the event should Evans refuse to do a Bathurst 1000 saving deal.

“There are no other weekends available because of Mount Panorama bookings and the remainder of our calendar,” said a Supercars official.

“We do have some space in our calendar but nothing that would provide the teams enough travel or preparation time to compete at Bathurst.”