DARWIN ON THE EDGE
By Bruce Williams
Date posted: 4 August 2020
Darwin on the brink – Photo: InSyde Media
Darwin’s Supercars double-header is teetering on the brink as travel arrangements are put on hold.
By MARK FOGARTY
The scheduled departure of Supercars team personnel and officials has been delayed yet again as team transporters have reportedly been halted at the Queensland/Northern Territory border.
A charter flight from Brisbane to Darwin has been rescheduled for a third time until Friday morning, meaning an early afternoon arrival.
The first leg of the planned Hidden Valley Raceway double-header is the Darwin Triple Crown this weekend (August 8-9).
Team personnel – including drivers – were on their way to Brisbane airport for a 5 pm departure when they were told to return to their Gold Coast bases.
Vital discussions with Northern Territory authorities to make the Darwin double-header happen are continuing.
With no resolution to Supercars’ entry following NT’s border lockdown against arrivals from declared Brisbane coronavirus hot spots, the charter flight for around 200 people has been called off again. It was originally due to leave on Monday evening.
Brisbane-based Triple Eight and double defending champion Scott McLaughlin were most vulnerable to the NT’s latest exclusion.
Key T8 staff and McLaughlin – plus any other team personnel who lived in the Brisbane, Logan and Ipswich local government areas – were hurriedly relocated.
Teams have now been informed that the charter flight to Darwin will depart at 8 am on Friday.
If it goes ahead, drivers, teams and series officials will have enough time to get ready for racing on Saturday.
Supercars is trying to negotiate an exemption based on isolating the teams, limiting them to travelling between Hidden Valley and their hotels.
Meanwhile, team transporters are said to have been stopped just short of the QLD/NT border – less than halfway to Darwin – until the situation is resolved one way or the other.
Brad Jones Racing has travelled by road from Albury, which is outside the NT exclusion zone, while Kelly Racing staff have driven from the Gold Coast in a team bus.
As well as this weekend’s Darwin Triple Crown, the teams are due to stay on for the Darwin SuperSprint on August 15-16 before returning to Queensland for the Townsville street race event on August 29-30.
There is talk of another event in Townsville on August September 5-6 before the Victorian teams return home.
For more of the latest Supercars news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16617,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16617,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5574,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5574,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
