Supercars Ipswich: Races return to Queensland Raceway in August two years after circuit was axed from calendar

Urgent discussions were held over the past week between the council and Supercars about an Ipswich return.

The action during race one of the Townsville SuperSprint which is part of the 2021 Supercars Championship at Reid Park on Saturday.

Supercars will return to Ipswich two years after the call was made to drop Queensland Raceway from the championship calendar as Covid-19 restrictions in New South Wales forced a reshuffle.

Urgent discussions were held over the past week between the council, Supercars and Queensland Raceway about holding a two-day event in August.

It was announced in 2019 that the Willowbank circuit would be axed from the Supercars schedule from the following year; the first time it wouldn’t race there since it opened in 1999.

Shane van Gisbergen drives the #97 Red Bull Ampol Holden Commodore ZB during race two of the Townsville SuperSprint on Saturday.

Plans for Supercars to return to the ‘paperclip’ last year at the height of the pandemic were scuppered.

It is understood the opportunity only emerged in the past several days for a triumphant Supercars return to Queensland Raceway and it is now confirmed for August 21-22.

It will be the eighth round of the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship.

Last week it was announced the Sydney SuperNight race will need to shift to later in the year due to the escalating Covid situation over the border.

The event injected about $8 million into the Ipswich economy before its axing in a pre-Covid era.

“I am delighted to welcome Supercars to Queensland Raceway in Ipswich,” Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“Council is revved and ready to continue working with Supercars and Queensland Raceway to host the high octane weekend.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer.

“I am absolutely thrilled it is back on the calendar and, speaking on behalf of the huge motorsport community in the region, I know they will be just as happy to see this event return to Ipswich.

“It is a huge win for Ipswich.

“Council will quickly turn its attention to working with all stakeholders to have the event up and racing within the relatively short time frame.

“We will have all the appropriate plans in place and work with authorities to make this a safe and successful weekend of motor racing.”

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer thanked Queensland Raceway owner John Tetley for welcoming back the Supercars field.

“Sincere thanks to (Mr Tetley) and the team at QR for accommodating us and helping to keep the championship progressing throughout 2021,” he said.

The championship cars made a brief return to the Ipswich track for the first time in 18 months in February for early season testing.

Cameron Waters celebrates after winning race one during the Townsville SuperSprint on Saturday.

“During the Covid caused turmoil of 2020, Supercars had hoped to race here but external factors prevented the two of us delivering a race weekend last year,” Mr Tetley said.

“This year things have reversed and the flexibility of our two organisations offer the perfect opportunity to bring things together for the fans in southeast Queensland.”

Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic said she was very excited by the news, and not just because she’s a huge motorsport fan.

“As chair of council’s Economic and Industry Development Committee, I can also see the big economic boost this will bring to the city,” she said.

“This is an important and significant event for tourism and for bringing people to the city, further investment, spending, and jobs for locals.

“Motorsport fans have been pleading for the race to return to the region and this will bring joy, adrenaline and the petrol fumes back for them all.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Supercars Ipswich: Races return to Queensland Raceway in August two years after circuit was axed from calendar