RACE eyes 2025 domestic, 2026 overseas expansion

Supercars is set for more domestic rounds in 2025, with overseas rounds a "forward focus” for 2026, says RACE Chairman Barclay Nettlefold.

Supercars released its 2023 calendar year financials on Monday, with Nettlefold anticipating "continued growth in 2024 and beyond, including the possibility of expanding the sport to international races outside of Australia and New Zealand.”

There are 12 rounds on the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship calendar, with the series making a triumphant return to New Zealand in April.

Nettlefold confirmed that number is set to increase for 2025, telling media on Monday: “There’s an absolute recognition that we need to keep growing the sport, racing more.

“Having more events, that means, in a domestic environment and also the consideration of our international plans.”

On the 2025 calendar itself, Nettlefold said: “There's a lot of work going on, there's a few iterations [of the 2025 calendar].

“[COO] Tim Watsford is leading that with [CEO] Shane Howard but nothing has been presented to board as yet.

In the wake of the return to New Zealand, overseas expansion has also been tipped for 2026.

The first event held outside of Australia was in New Zealand in 2001. In the two decades since, Supercars has raced in China, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and the United States.

However, Nettlefold reiterated that the immediate focus is domestic events in the effort to "beef up our cadence around racing."

“Everything that has happened on the international discussions to date has been inbound enquiry from promoters and categories,” Nettlefold said.

“I do see that to be a more 2026 forward focus, yes. Domestic is certainly where we are trying to beef up our cadence around racing and be more relevant in the marketplace.”

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the betr Darwin Triple Crown on June 14-16. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

International viewers can follow all the Supercars action on Superview.