Symmons Plains: Coronavirus casts doubt over Tassie Supercars round

Tasmania’s round of the Supercars at Symmons Plains is in doubt amid the coronavirus pandemic and the cost to the state could be huge.

TASMANIA’S round of the Supercars championship is in serious doubt after round two in Melbourne was cancelled setting up a potential $10 million blow to the state’s economy.

Tickets to Tasmania’s biggest sporting event were selling like hot cakes in anticipation of the last time fans would see Holden supercars doing battle at Symmons Plains Raceway on April 3-5.

The State Government last year signed a new four-year $7.35 million deal to keep to supercars racing in Tasmania until 2023.

Supercars Australia must decide whether to cancel the 2020 Tasmanian event, postpone it or run it as a fan lockout because of the coronavirus pandemic.

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“I wouldn’t be happy if the Tassie round got cancelled,” said Mustang supercar driver Cam Waters.

Fabian Coulthard drives the #12 Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang and Scott McLaughlin drives the #17 Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang at Albert Park yesterday. Picture: GETTY

“I love racing and I love going to Tassie, it’s a cool place, so it would be disappointing if it got called off.

“In the current climate we haven’t got much say, and we’ve got to do what’s best to protect everyone.”

As fans were shut-out out of the Formula One and Supercars event in Melbourne, all of the Supercar team owners had crisis talked with Supercars officials before the bombshell news that the event had been canned.

“Supercars will continue to adhere to government health advice and act to ensure the health and safety of our fans and our people remains our primary focus,” Supercars Australia said.

“Given the cancellation of this weekend’s event, we will look to reschedule another event later in the year. We are fortunate that this year’s calendar enables us to do so.

“Supercars will continue to closely monitor the situation in line with guidance provided by government agencies.”

Team owner Brad Jones favours a rescheduling of the Tasmanian round rather than straight-out cancellation.

“We want to put on a great show for our fans in Tassie and we want them to be able to engage with us,” Jones said.

“We just need to wait and see what is going on with the coronavirus around the world and in Australia and take the appropriate action.

“I don’t believe the round should be cancelled.

“If we can’t come to Tassie in a few weeks I would like to see it rescheduled for later in the year.”