Kiwi leg drops off Supercars’ calendar
Talks to bring Supercars action back to New Zealand are taking place after it dropped off the calendar for the 2023 season.
The series usually stages one round of the competition here each year, although the Covid-19 pandemic meant this year’s Auckland SuperSprint at Pukekohe Park Raceway was the first since 2019.
Pukekohe is closing to motorsport activity from April next year following a change in ownership in 2021, which has left championship organisers scrabbling to find an alternative New Zealand venue.
Hampton Downs was initially considered as the favourite to host a Kiwi leg of the series but securing funding to upgrade the facilities in time for the 2023 season became an issue.
Shane Howard, Supercars’ chief executive officer, says he hopes the championship will return to New Zealand in the future and discussions have been held with a number of circuit promoters.
“We are still in progressive talks with our counterparts there for an event in the future, however as they continue it is in the best interest of all parties involved to focus on 2024 and beyond,” he explains.
“We have every intention to return to New Zealand and we are confident of an announcement in the new year regarding a partnership with a new venue.”
The inaugural season of the Gen3 era will be contested over 12 rounds and drivers will first do battle on the streets of Newcastle on March 10-12.
The Bathurst 1000 is set to take place on October 5-8 and the season will end in Adelaide on November 23-26.
Key dates
2023 Repco Supercars Championship calendar
March 10-12: Thrifty Newcastle 500
March 30-April 2: Beaurepaires Melbourne 400
April 28-30: Perth SuperSprint
May 19-21: NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint
June 16-18: Betr Darwin Triple Crown
July 7-9: NTI Townsville 500
July 28-30: Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight
August 18-20: OTR SuperSprint
September 15-17: Penrite Oil Sandown 500
October 5-8: Repco Bathurst 1000
October 27-29: Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500
November 23-26: VALO Adelaide 500
