Supercars keen on second Bathurst circuit

Bathurst could host two Supercars events each year if plans for a second circuit at Mount Panorama come to fruition, says category CEO James Warburton.

The Bathurst Regional Council is aiming to build a 4.5km layout and business park, dubbed Velocity Park, alongside the legendary 6.2km course.

Its plans received a major boost this week with the New South Wales Government pledging another $10 million to the project, adding to its previous $5 million commitment.

The regional city is eager to attract international motorcycle events to Bathurst that cannot run on the existing track.

Velocity Park will, however, be built to accommodate both motorcycles and cars, making it a logical target for a Supercars sprint event.

The championship hosted sprint rounds at Bathurst twice in the mid-1990s, but has made the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 its sole appearance at the venue in the last 20 years.

A preliminary layout for the second circuit

Already working with the council on its Bathurst 1000 and 12 Hour events, Warburton says Supercars is keeping a close eye on the second circuit developments.

“The Bathurst Regional Council is a fantastic partner of ours and the plans for the second circuit are absolutely world class,” Warburton told Supercars.com.

“We would absolutely consider running a SuperSprint round at Bathurst once it’s completed.

“The way the second circuit is being planned, a sprint event on that layout would have a completely different DNA to the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in October.

“It’s something that would be a great addition to the calendar for us.”

Situated to the west of McPhillamy Park, planning for the second circuit is well underway.

Council is currently weighing up proposals from five circuit design firms, with a successful applicant to be selected as early as next month.

A preliminary 4.58km circuit has already been designed, featuring multiple layouts that can all be run separate to the existing circuit which doubles as a public road.

The new circuit would sit to the west of the current layout

In announcing the funding deal in the Mount Panorama pitlane this weekend, New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro said that the government is determined to see the plans become a reality.

“In the upcoming budget the focus will be on regional New South Wales, and the first announcement to underpin that is an additional $10 million investment by the New South Wales government to support the Velocity Park project, a second track for Mount Panorama, and making sure we set this region up for the future,” said Barilaro.

“This is about tourism, it’s about jobs, it’s about the economy. And more importantly it’s about showcasing what is fantastic about regional New South Wales, places like Bathurst.

“That is why the NSW government is announcing $10m, that’s on top of our previous announcement of $5m.

“Along with the council, and with the federal government, we’re going to make sure that this project sees the light of day.”

The Bathurst Regional Council has pledged $10 million of its own money to the project, which is said to require $50 million to receive the green light.