Supercars 2021 Calendar Revealed

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will begin at the spiritual home of Australian motor racing, Mount Panorama from 26-28 February.

Supercars today issued the Draft 2021 Championship calendar, which will run over 12 events between February and December.

Teams will make two trips to Bathurst, with the season opener in February, the Mount Panorama 500 and the Great Race, the 161-lap 1000km Repco Bathurst 1000 on the traditional dates of 7-10 October.

Racing returns to Perth, Tasmania, Victoria and New Zealand after COVID-19 restrictions forced changes to the 2020 calendar.

Every practice, qualifying and race session will be broadcast live in 2021 on Fox Sports and Kayo. Six events will be broadcast on the Seven Network.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said next year’s calendar was a win for fans and viewers following the challenges COVID-19 presented in 2020.

“It is important to us to ensure the 2021 calendar features as much certainty for fans as we can provide given the current COVID-19 restrictions in each state and territory,” Seamer said.

“We’re thrilled that next year we can deliver two events at Mount Panorama, including the season opener in February.

“We are still working with all government partners on fan limits for each event, but we are confident of strong crowd numbers across Australia and New Zealand, in line with the current loosening of COVID-19 restrictions."

There is a planned six-week break around the Tokyo Olympics, before Supercars returns in spectacular style, under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The Repco Bathurst 1000 and the Supercars Championship round at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix will run over four days. Four other events are slated to take place over three days, while six events will use the three race/two-day SuperSprint format introduced in 2020.

“We think having three different event formats used in 2021 will build on what we’ve learned about our racing this year, so fans can look forward to interesting weekends every time we race."

For the first time in its history, the Championship will conclude with a spectacular finale on the streets of Surfers Paradise from 3-5 December.

“What a classic three-day carnival it will be with the Gold Coast to host the finale of the supercar season,’’ said Gold Coast City Council Mayor Tom Tate.

“Only on the Gold Coast will spectators see the final race to the championship flag. Given the pressure on teams to win the crown, it’ll be one hell of a race weekend in December.”

Highlights: Race 26 Vodafone Gold Coast 600

The Sandown event is not currently scheduled for 2021. Sandown plays a critical role as a flex option for the category with multiple bookings through the year should other events be cancelled.

Teams will begin preparations for the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship with pre-season testing to take place at Sydney Motorsport Park on Sunday, 14 February.

In light of the recent announcements regarding the loosening of restrictions, Supercars is currently reviewing its general admission, grandstand and corporate ticketing options for the season-opening Mount Panorama 500, with further details to be released for fans by December 10.

Tickets for the Darwin Triple Crown and The Bend are on sale. Tickets for other events will be announced in the new year.

Repco Head of Sponsorship Mitch Wiley said: “Like all Supercar fans, the team at Repco can’t wait for the start of the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship season.

“After such a challenging year, to start the season at the spiritual home of motorsport is a truly symbolic way to reset.

“Our trans-Tasman team could not be prouder of this partnership and we cannot wait to connect with the fans at all of these fantastic events throughout 2021.”

Supercars will continue work on 2021 event formats with full details to be released over coming weeks.

The 2021 Repco Supercars Championship Calendar:

Feb 26-28: Mount Panorama 500, Bathurst, NSW

Mar 18-21: Melbourne, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, VIC

April 10-11: Tasmania SuperSprint, Symmons Plains, TAS

May 8-9: OTR SuperSprint, Tailem Bend, SA

May 29-30: Winton SuperSprint, Winton, VIC

June 19-20: Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley, NT

July 9-11: NTI Townsville, Reid Park, QLD

Aug 20-22: Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW

Sept 11-12: Perth SuperNight, Wanneroo Raceway, WA

Oct 7-10: Repco Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama, NSW