ARG READY FOR RETURN OF RACING

Australian Racing Group ready for the return of racing – Photo: InSyde Media

Australian Racing Group is looking to a return to racing in July or August if health restrictions continue to be eased.

By MARK FOGARTY

Despite promising signs for a rollback starting as soon as next month, ARG doesn’t want to rush a resumption to give teams and organisers time to prepare.

ARG runs the major second-level categories – TCR, S5000, Touring Car Masters, Trans Am and V8 Touring Cars – that headline the Motorsport Australia Championships.

With the federal government set to approve a phased lifting of the ban on sporting activities on Friday, ARG has prepared plans to be back on track in two to three months.

“There are positive signs the COVID-19 fog is starting to clear and we’re starting to see a way out,” ARG chief executive Matt Braid said. “We’re working hand-in-hand with Motorsport Australia to work with governments on when it will be logical to go racing again.

“It’s now looking like there’s scope to move towards a calendar, in our estimation, starting in July or August. That is the time looking most likely that, with some certainty, you should be able to get going.”

Canberra is expected to recommend that major sports events be allowed to resume in June as TV-only affairs with no spectators and within a mass gathering limit of 500 people, as well as strict health protocols.

However, individual states like hardliner Victoria will still have the right to maintain restrictions, including closed borders.

NSW, Queensland, SA, WA, Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT have already started reducing their lockdowns as the coronavirus pandemic abates.

They are likely to be amenable to getting sports going again, especially the AFL and NRL competitions, on the back of which Supercars and other motor sport can plot a comeback.

ARG has developed various scenarios for a return, with dates and tracks for a compressed second half of the year season to be finalised once guidelines are established.

The one event it is not looking to shift is the Bathurst International from November 13-15, incorporating the postponed Bathurst 6 Hour.

Braid emphasised that a return date and rescheduled calendar wouldn’t be hurried.

“We’ll err on the side of caution about when we’ll start talking about dates so that we can actually confirm a calendar rather than trying to rush back and possibly having to reschedule again,” he said. “That will also allow time for everyone to spool back up and get prepared, but also get some reasonable gaps in between events so we don’t go too rapid-fire.”

Braid, former boss of Volvo Australia and 2IC at Supercars, asserted ARG was in a strong position to survive the economic strain of the coronavirus crisis – although not without impact.

“It’s going to be a different motor sport landscape,” he said. “I think we’re well-positioned as a group with the categories we have and the cost base, so we’ll be in a good position in a post-COVID-19 environment.

“It’s going to be a very tough environment, so when I say that we’re going to be able to bounce back, it’s going to be bouncing back relative to a very difficult situation for everybody.

“So it’s not going to be easy by any means.”

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