Supercars boss gives his thumbs up for Tasmania’s round of the motor racing championship

Tasmania’s biggest sporting event was a smash-hit again at the weekend when 30,000 fans rolled out for the Supercars at Symmons Plains. The track is in for a $1.6m facelift. Here’s how the money will be spent.

Crowd at Symmons Plains for V8 supercars

A newly-inked contract, almost 30,000 fans on the hill and some of the closest racing Symmons Plains has ever seen had Supercars boss Shane Howard smiling from ear to ear on Sunday.

Tasmania’s biggest sporting event did not disappoint in its 52nd edition.

Howard says things will only get better on the back of Supercars Australia’s three-year $6m deal with the state government to keep the action coming to Tasmania until 2027 and guaranteed improvements to the state’s home of motorsport.

Supercars boss Shane Howard for page 5

Howard was delighted to see a bumper turnout on Mother’s Day, with a packed carpark, crowd on the hill and sold-out corporate zones.

“It has been a great weekend, and it’s pleasing to see such a great turnout and we’re really particularly pleased to see a lot of mums in the crowd on Mother’s Day,” Howard said.

The contract includes $1.6m in upgrades to track safety and keep in line with international standards, as well as improve amenities for the public.

“You have to continually upgrade to meet modern day expectations and entertainment value for the fans and safety for the drivers,” Howard said.

“We really appreciate what the government has done in getting behind this event, and we just want to make it bigger and better for the fans each year.”

Matthew Payne wins the 2025 Snowy River Caravans Tasmania Super 440, Event 03 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Symmons Plains, Launceston, , Australia. 11 May, 2025.

The Tasmanian event injects an estimated $10m into the state’s economy each year.

Howard says it is a valued round of the Supercars championship.

“Tassie plays a pivotal role because we pride ourselves on being a fully national championship and we’ve got a long history of racing here at Symmons Plains,” he said.

“The event has always been extremely well-supported by the Tasmanian fan base and we love coming here.

“The drivers and the teams absolutely love coming to race on this track.

“It’s a fantastic little circuit that produces incredible racing.

“It looks easy but it produces challenging races for the drivers and it has produced some mixed results as well, so there has been great entertainment again for the fans.”

Gold Coast young gun Broc Feeney won both Supercar races on Saturday while flying Kiwi Matt Payne won the 80-lap race on Sunday by half a car length from Feeney’s Red Bull rocket.

Red Bull Racing boss Jamie Whincup, who has won more Supercars races in Tasmania than any other driver, dubbed it: “The greatest Supercar race we’ve ever seen at Symmons Plains.”