SLIMMER SUPERCARS SCHEDULE

Winton one of several tracks on the chopping block for Supercars slimmer schedule – Photo: InSyde Media

It now looks like next year’s Supercars championship will be reduced to 13 events as a cost-saving measure.

By MARK FOGARTY

AUTO ACTION has learned that the teams have been told that the 2020 schedule will have two fewer events than this year.

The series was reduced from 16 events to 15 this year with the suspension of the Sydney Motorsport Park night racing meeting.

Under further pressure from the teams to cut travelling costs, AA understands next year’s calendar will be trimmed to 13 events – the fewest since 2005.

With SMP due to rejoin with a mid-season night event boosted by permanent lighting, Supercars is looking to ditch three rounds.

Winton and Phillip Island are up for renewal and most vulnerable.

A third casualty also looms as Supercars renegotiates deals with Townsville, Gold Coast and Queensland Raceway.

The latter relies on safety upgrades as well as local and state government funding.

Delays in finalising the Townsville and Gold Coast renewals mean the 2020 calendar will not be announced this weekend as planned.

As revealed recently by AA, next year’s schedule and an update on proposed technical rule changes for 2020 and ’21 have been put off until the middle of this month.

Along with the reduced schedule, next year’s Supercars championship is planned to be an earlier starting and later finishing split season, divided by a long winter break.

It is already confirmed the that the season-starting Adelaide 500 will be held from February 20-23, with the F1 Australian Grand Prix expected to follow from March 12-15.

Next year’s Enduro Cup could also be recast, with a 500 km endurance race at Tailem Bend preceding the Bathurst 1000 and twin-race Gold Coast 600.

Sandown would remain in November as Adelaide-style twin 250 km races – or reduced to a pair of 200 km sprints like the Townsville 400 – as part of an extended agreement following major track safety upgrades.

New safety measures at the notorious Turn 6 were revealed by AUTO ACTION last month ahead of this year’s Enduro Cup-ending Sandown 500 from November 8-10.

The $1 million investment by Sandown track owner Melbourne Racing Club indicates the suburban track’s future is secure for at least the next few years.

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