Hunter Valley region keen for Supercars

Despite the 2024 Newcastle 500 being cancelled, the Hunter Valley region is still keen for Supercars and looking for alternative options.

NBN News has revealed enthusiastic local campaigners in Maitland and the home of Allan Grice, Cessnock, regions have started pushing to find street circuit options outside of Newcastle and keep Supercars in the region.

The first Newcastle 500 in four years held that kicked off Gen3 in March was the last to be run on the inaugural contract for the event which began in 2017.

But after the City of Newcastle Council announced a contract could not be renewed, the seaside street circuit has lost its spot on the calendar.

This means the 2024 Supercars season is likely to begin at Bathurst in February, much like 2021 with a sprint event the week after the 12 Hour.

Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal has shown his support behind keeping Supercars in the Hunter Valley region. Image: NBN News

Despite the setback, both Supercars and the NSW Government have outlined their hopes to return to racing on the Newcastle streets in the future.

But some Hunter Valley locals are campaigning to bring the event to the nearby Cessnock and Maitland areas, which are both less than 50km inland of Newcastle.

The Hunter Valley region is somewhat of a Supercars heartland demographic with many community members travelling to the Newcastle 500 and Bathurst 1000 events.

Cessnock is also where 1986 and 1990 Bathurst 1000 winner and touring cars legend Grice came from.

Cessnock Mayor Jay Suvaal told NBN News he would be open to working with Supercars.

“Working through with Supercars about what they are after, where they may want a track,” he said.

“We have the tourism destination here and accommodation as well, which would be a great promotion.”

The father of Erebus Motorsport co-driver David Russell, Wayne Russell has got on board.

The long time local racer and Australian Production Cars regular believes Cessnock would be an ideal location.

“It would be huge, I cannot believe how big it got so quickly, so bringing it to Cessnock is a no brainer,” he said.

Australian Production Cars competitor Wayne Russell voiced his passionate support. Image: NBN News

At Cessnock its airport and back roads through “wine country” have been earmarked as potential track locations.

Meanwhile, in Maitland a social media page called “Maitland to host Supercars” has emerged and attracted hundreds of followers within four days.

Cessnock Chamber of Commerce representative Clint Ekert said the economic benefit the Newcastle event brings to the region makes the idea well worth chasing.

“I think we (Cessnock and Maitland) can definitely work together on this one if we had to,” he said.

“The economic benefit we would normally see from the event just when it was held in Newcastle means it would be a real shame to lose it out of the Hunter Valley.”

Triple Eight star Shane van Gisbergen was sad to see Newcastle go, but made it clear the key to successful street races are being embraced by the public with the long-running Gold Coast and Adelaide events prime examples.

“It is a real shame we are not going to Newcastle, but you also want to race in a place where you feel welcomed,” he said.

Shane van Gisbergen racing at Newcastle this year.

“You go to Adelaide and it is amazing because the people love it.

“You come here (Gold Coast) and it’s incredible, everyone gets behind it, so you want to go to a place people want you to be.

“Hopefully they can sort that out or we can go to another town where people want us and have an awesome event.”

Time will tell if this campaign does get to Events NSW and the state government and eventually Supercars, but it is a starting point.

The 2023 running of the Gold Coast 500 is taking place this weekend.

Main image by Peter Norton EPIC Sports Photography

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