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TRUCKS STILL MIGHT FLY

Trucks Still Might Fly

By Paul Gover

The Spectacular Stadium Super Trucks could be back on the Supercars program in 2023.

Far from being rejected by Supercars, the category’s new CEO Shane Howard says the current situation with the SST racer is more about customs than customers.

The trucks have been shipped back to the USA and will not have a role on the 2022 program at Supercars events, but Howard is open to an early return of the spectacular V8- powered pick-ups.

“We supported Stadium Super Trucks for a long time. To be honest, we were their biggest supporter,” Howard tells Auto Action.

Supporters of the wild jumping trucks have complained about the loss of the pick-ups, which were parked through 2021 as the Pandemic shut down the category and its regular American racers – led by off-road legend and former IndyCar racer Robbie Gordon – were locked out of Australia.

The trucks have now been shipped back to the USA, where they were built by Gordon’s team in California, because of import restrictions. Competition cars are usually imported on a ‘carnet’ which requires them to be sold locally – usually with huge tax hits including Luxury Car Tax if the price is over $70,000 – or returned to their original destination.

“I think the trucks had to go out of Australia for carnet reasons,” says Howard.

But he is not ruling out a comeback.

“I’d never say they are gone forever. They have provided some great entertainment.

“We like to put in some other entertainment, like the SSTs, on our programs.”

Talking timing, Howard says 2022 is out but he is happy to talk about

“Not this year, because we’re pretty much loaded with our categories. But they could come back.

“2023 is a possibility. But we also need the category to be strong with the top drivers.”

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action.