DARWIN STILL ON, BUT DELAYED

This weekend’s Supercars Championship round has been postponed

Darwin’s double-header has been postponed for a week as strict COVID-19 protocols are imposed on team personnel and officials arriving this afternoon.

By MARK FOGARTY

It has been confirmed that the Darwin Triple Crown has been put off from this weekend to August 15-16.

The second leg of the visit to Hidden Valley Raceway will be rescheduled to the weekend of August 22-23 – or more likely, mid-week around August 19-20.

The Townsville round remains set for August 29-30, with Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer confirming a double-header there is also on the cards.

Back-to-back events at Townsville are expected to be announced within the next couple of days.

Supercars is also committed to the Bathurst 1000 on October 8-11, even if it means keeping all the teams in southeast Queensland after Townsville.

A double-header at Queensland Raceway in between is being considered as the Sandown round in Melbourne scheduled for September 19-20 is not going to happen

Seamer admitted Bathurst could be the final round the series to get the title decided amid the ever-changing coronavirus situation, including the likely long-term continuation of border closures in WA and Tasmania.

Supercars and Northern Territory authorities have agreed on a COVIDSafe plan for the teams and officials in Darwin.

They will isolate in a hotel until next week and then be limited, AFL hub-style, to travelling between the city and the track.

In statement on the BetEasy Triple Crown postponement, Seamer said:

“Following discussions between relevant health authorities, the NT Government and Supercars, it has been agreed that the first event of the double header will move back one week with the CoreStaff Darwin SuperSprint also rescheduled to a later date in August.

“Team personnel and transporters will arrive in Darwin later today and those who have visited areas deemed hotspots by the NT Government will be managed in hotel isolation until early next week.

“Following intensive discussions over recent days and at the direction of the NT Government and the relevant health authority, the decision has been made to postpone this weekend’s event for seven days.

“This decision has been made to ensure we protect the health and wellbeing of all of our people and the wider community in Northern Territory ahead of the BetEasy Darwin Triple Crown.

“We would like to thank the NT Government and health authorities on working with Supercars on developing a plan that allows us to move forward with the Northern leg of our Championship.

“I would also like to thank our teams and fans for their ongoing flexibility to accommodate this year’s Championship.

“This is a decision Supercars supports to ensure the health and wellbeing of all Territorians.

“This announcement will have no bearing on our plans for any future events including the Townsville SuperSprint.”

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