Party-starters: All season-opening circuits

The new season will start at a familiar battleground, with the 2021 Repco Supercars Championship will commence at Mount Panorama.

In 61 seasons of championship competition, 16 circuits have hosted the first round of the year.

Bathurst hosted the sole event in 1966, with the Australian Touring Car Championship decided by a single race from the category's inception in 1960 to 1968.

Gnoo Blas in Orange, just an hour west of Bathurst in rural New South Wales, hosted the first ever championship race in 1960.

Lowood in Queensland hosted the 1961 race, followed by Tasmania's Longford (1962) and South Australia's Mallala (1963).

The iconic, high-speed Lakeside circuit in Queensland hosted two championship-deciders in 1964 and 1967, sandwiched by Sandown (1965) and Bathurst.

Sandown has hosted season-openers on six occasions, most recently in 1998.

Amaroo also opened the season six times in nine seasons between 1986 and 1994.

In 1969, the championship shifted to multiple rounds, with Calder Park first cab off the rank.

Symmons Plains Raceway hosted the season-opener 11 times straight between 1971 and 1981.

Adelaide was the traditional season-opener at the turn of the century, and has opened championship seasons a record 17 times.

The popular event first opened the season in 2002, three years after it made its championship debut, with Phillip Island hosting the first round in 2000 and 2001.

It opened the Australian leg of the season in 2010 and 2011, with the Yas Marina Circuit kicking off the season proper.

Adelaide was the third round in 2010, with Bahrain completing a Middle East double header following the first trip to Abu Dhabi.

Sandown, Calder Park and Amaroo each hosted the first round six times.

The 1996 championship began under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park, then named Eastern Creek.

The V8 Supercars era began the following year at a floodlit Calder Park.

Don't miss a new beginning in 2021 at the Repco Mt Panorama 500. Tickets are on sale now.

Tracks which have opened ATCC/Supercars seasonss

*From 1960 to 1968, the ATCC was decided by a single race