May 16, 2020: Supercars has announced its long-awaited return to racing on the weekend of June 27-28, 2020 at Sydney Motorsport Park, Eastern Creek (SMSP).
The Australian Racing Drivers’ Club (ARDC), operators of SMSP, has been working closely with Supercars and Motorsport Australia to identify possible dates and operational procedures for the former’s return to live racing within the continuing COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
The Club is delighted to have reached an agreement with Supercars for Sydney Motorsport Park to be the chosen venue for the first live action event following the COVID-19 lockdown.
Recent assessments of the Western Sydney venue by Supercars concluded that the Sydney circuit will ensure a successful application of COVID-mandated procedures such as general security and access control, catering protocols, adherence to hygiene, the location of a team base at the Alpha Hotel next to the track, and current social distancing requirements.
While the June 2020 event is slated as a closed event from a spectator perspective, the ARDC believes the size and layout of SMSP can be utilised to accommodate some form of spectator allowance within current social distancing guidelines.
Feedback from the fans certainly indicates significant demand for live racing, and further approaches will be made to the relevant NSW Government authorities to investigate a limited ‘park and view’ in-car spectator format or similarly distanced spectating, so fans can be involved while ensuring their safety and health.
ARDC President Andrew Leithhead said: “The ARDC team has been focussing on establishing procedures and protocols that will facilitate a rapid return to motor-racing at Sydney Motorsport Park while complying with COVID protection requirements.
“’Safety first’ is key to all our operations at SMSP, and this applies as much to COVID protection as to motorsport safety.
We are very excited at the prospect of Supercar racing at SMSP only six weeks from today.”
With the expedited progression of the SMSP circuit lighting project during COVID-19 lockdown, both the ARDC and Supercars also continue discussions about the return of a Sydney Supercars SuperNight event later in 2020.
Following the launch in early May of the first of 132 light towers across all circuit configurations on the venue, a further 45 poles have since been erected in just 10 days. The lighting project, originally brought on four years ago after discussions about night racing between Supercars and the ARDC, has seen a $16.4 million investment in SMSP to upgrade to a facility that can run night and day; key to meeting the demands of all levels of motorsport from track days and grass-roots racing, though to the premier Australian motorsport category of Supercars.
ARDC/SMSP: SUPERCARS:
Samantha Stevens Felicity Hamblin
M: 0411494414 M: 0467 785 203
email: Samantha.Stevens@ardc.com.au Email: fhamblin@supercars.com