Sydney to host Supercars night racing again next year

Sydney controversially lost its Supercars race this year, but it will be back on the calendar in 2020, and under lights.

Supercars return to Sydney next year and the race will again be under lights. Picture: Tim Hunter.

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Supercars will return to Sydney next year, with the sport set to reinstate the Sydney SuperNight with a floodlit race at Eastern Creek.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Sydney Motorsport Park will be back on the V8 calendar in 2020 after the round was controversially cut from this season’s list of events.

Australian Racing Drivers’ Club CEO Glenn Matthews confirmed the event would be returning to Sydney next August, with Sydney Motorsport Park regaining its mantle as the home of V8 night racing in Australia.

“Supercars’ first night race in a quarter of a century was a huge success in 2018,’’ Matthews said.

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Supercars return to Sydney next year and the race will again be under lights. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“And we can’t wait to take it to the next level in 2020 at Sydney Motorsport Park.’’

The event will be lit up by almost $20 million worth of state-of-the-art lights after the NSW Government approved a $33.4-million upgrade of the facility earlier this year.

“The NSW Government’s multimillion-dollar investment in permanent circuit lighting will establish Sydney Motorsport Park as an elite 24/7 motorsport facility,’’ Matthews said.

“We will well-and-truly light up Western Sydney in August next year.”

Blacktown born-and-raised Ford star Mark Winterbottom welcomed the Sydney return, with the Sydney SuperNight to include a 200km night race and a 200km day race.

“It is great that Sydney is back,’’ Winterbottom said.

Supercars under lights was a hit in 2018. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“It is very important to have Sydney on the calendar and not just because it is where I am from. It is our biggest market, so it is really a place we have to be. We need to race in Sydney.’’

Winterbottom declared last year’s Sydney SuperSprint a major success. It was the first V8 night race since 1997 in Australia.

“I think it was one of the best events on the calendar last year,’’ Winterbottom said.

“We certainly enjoyed it as drivers and the crowd numbers where way up, so it is pretty safe to say the fans enjoyed it, too.

“I am glad it is back on and that the Government has gotten behind it by investing money into the place.

Action from the SuperNight 300 at Sydney Motorsport Park in 2018. Picture: Getty Images

“The improvements to the track and facilities will make it an even better event. I can’t wait to return.’’

Supercars boss Sean Seamer declared the importance of Sydney to the sport.

“This is a great step forward in our plans for Sydney,” Seamer said.

“The 2018 night race was a fantastic proof of concept and since then, Glenn Matthews and his team have done a wonderful job to secure these significant upgrades which will establish Sydney Motorsport Park as an elite motorsport facility.

“We look forward to the SuperNight format returning in 2020 and moving on to the second phase of our partnership with the ARDC and NSW Government, which is to establish a Supercars team in Sydney, based at Sydney Motorsport Park.”

Originally published as Sydney to host Supercars night racing again next year