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SIX DAY BATHURST 1000 TO CONCLUDE SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP

Six day Bathurst 1000 to conclude Supercars Championship - Image: InSyde Media

By Dan McCarthy

It’s official the Bathurst 1000 will run as a six-day event, featuring 10 of the most popular categories in the Australian motorsport landscape from Tuesday, November 30 – Sunday, December 5.

Supercars has confirmed the Bathurst 1000, like it did last year, will act as the finale of the 2021 championship after it was announced the Gold Coast 500 had to be cancelled for a second straight year.

The ARG run Bathurst International originally scheduled from November 26-28 has been cancelled as all categories from that event join the support bill of the Bathurst 1000 a week later.

The 1000 will see Supercars and Australian Racing Group categories come together and race at Mount Panorama on the same program for the very first time, in what will be one of the biggest motorsport events the country has ever seen.

The Bathurst event is set to be a spectacle with 10 high quality categories racing over the six days.

The lead category will be the Supercars Championship finale, the Bathurst 1000.

Its regular support categories, the second tier Super2 Series, one-make Porsche Carrera Cup, the popular Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series and V8 Superutes will all feature.

Five ARG categories will also be at the event, the pocket rocket TCR Australia Series, the S5000 open-wheel monsters, the National Trans Am Series, the ever-popular retro Touring Car Casters and modern GT World Challenge Australia categories.

Supercars CEO, Sean Seamer is thankful that this event has come to fruition and thinks it will be great for motorsport fans around the nation.

“I would like to thank the Bathurst Mayor Ian North, Rob Cameron at Repco and John McMellan at ARG for their collaboration over the past few weeks to put together what might be known as the best ever Repco Bathurst 1000,” Seamer said.

“It’s been a tough year for motorsport fans but we’re confident this is the recipe for the best possible end to the 2021 season.”

Six day Bathurst 1000 to conclude Supercars Championship - Image: InSyde Media

Six day Bathurst 1000 to conclude Supercars Championship – Image: InSyde Media

ARG Chairman John McMellan is happy that everyone has come together to achieve this common goal in such tough times.

“It is very pleasing when everyone has the same goal which was to make the sport the priority and work collaboratively to deliver something special,” McMellan said.

“We need to acknowledge the role that all of our respective sponsors played in assisting to make this happen which is reflective of their passion for the sport.

“This event will be a great opportunity to grab the family, go camping in the fresh rural air of Bathurst whilst being entertained by a truly dynamic range of motorsport.”

Supercars and ARG have said they will be working closely with NSW health authorities around COVID-safe measures and Public Health Order requirements to ensure the safety of all staff and patrons at the event.

The reason for the date change is to ensure that more people can attend the event, as it is very likely that New South Wales will have hit its 80% double vaccine target.

“We are all eager to get back to enjoying incredible sports events across NSW, which is why it’s so important that our community keeps pushing forward with our outstanding vaccination effort,” said NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres.

“Motorsport has a spiritual home in Bathurst and there’s no doubt that fans love to watch racing unfold at Mount Panorama, be it in person or on the national broadcast.”

Supercars and Ticketek will provide ticketing information to current ticket holders over the coming days.

The 2021 Great Race weekend takes place when the Gold Coast 500 was originally scheduled.

Supercars are currently in discussions with various stakeholders on the four other events that are due to feature on the calendar prior to the Bathurst 1000 which AA understands to be a Queensland Raceway doubleheader followed by two events at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Anyone who purchased a ticket or campsite to the Bathurst International will receive a full refund, which will be processed by event ticketing providers within the next 14 days.

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