VICTORIAN MOTORSPORT EVENTS POSTPONED

Victorian motorsport events postponed – Image: InSyde Media

Both the Supercars pre-season test at Winton and the Australian All Wheels Festival at Phillip Island have been postponed.

By HEATH McALPINE

Only the Supercars pre-season test has a new date, with it being pushed back to Friday, February 19, which would have clashed with the second day of the Australian All Wheels Festival.

Namely, Chaz Mostert and a variety of Supercars endurance drivers would have been impacted by the postponement.

A Supercars statement was provided below:

“Due to the recently announced five-day, state-wide lockdown in Victoria, Supercars has rescheduled the planned test day in Winton to Friday, 19 February 2021. Further information will be provided once arrangements have been finalised.”

While the joint Motorcycling Australia and Motorsport Australia promoted inaugural Australian All Wheels Festival was due to take place on February 18-21, but due to the uncertainty surrounding a potential extension of the lockdown and the restrictions placed on the event after, both organisations have chosen to postpone the event.

Also, the conclusion of the five-day lockdown falls in alignment with when competitors ‘bump-in’, while many interstate competitors will need to quarantine or isolate upon arrival back in their home state.

Motorsport Australia director of motorsport and commercial operations Michael Smith has confirmed the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships will begin at the Bathurst 6 Hour Easter meeting, while a new date for the Australian All Wheels Festival will be devised soon.

“We’re all understandably disappointed with this outcome, given the significant planning already underway for this event,” Smith said.

“The health and safety of all those who would be part of the event has to be our priority and unfortunately race meetings like this cannot just be turned on and turned off in 24 hours.

“There would also be a significant costs for organisers, categories, teams, officials and spectators if there was a last minute cancellation, so this decision provides some certainty for everyone who had planned to attend and makes sure that no competitors are disadvantaged in their respective series or Championship.

“For the Shannons Motorsport Australia Championships, we now look forward to the opening round taking place as part of the Hi Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour on the Easter Weekend. We look forward to working closely with Matt (Braid) and the team at Australian Racing Group to deliver an exciting event at Australia’s most iconic circuit.”

The opening round of the Victorian State Race Series at Sandown featuring more than 300 entries was also set to take place on February 20-21, however nothing has been announced in regards to this being postponed.

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