Driven round the Bend
Anger as South Australian circuit dropped from Supercars schedule
A SUPERCARS calendar reshuffle has left the owners of The Bend Motorsport Park fuming.
The South Australian circuit is one of three events that has been dumped from the rescheduled calendar by the championship.
As well as losing its event, a trip to New Zealand in January and the proposed season finale at Bathurst in February have also been axed.
The Bend races were set for September but have been replaced by an event at Sandown in Melbourne.
The Sandown program has been shifted from December to its traditional preBathurst 1000 dates to allow a new season finale – the Sydney SuperNight – to be held under lights at Sydney Motorsport Park in December.
The Bend managing director Sam Shahin said the decision to drop his facility from the 2020 calendar was a blow to South Australian motorsport fans.
“Supercars owe a big apology to South Australia, and the many South Australian businesses and tourism operators that rely on event goers for their livelihoods, particularly at a time when their business has already been devastated by COVID restrictions,” Shahin said in a statement.
“Supercars do what’s best for Supercars.
“We have endeavoured for years to satisfy the great appetite for motorsport in SA.
“We’ve answered the calls with the best motorsport facility in the world but it seems the power of the eastern states yet again wins the day, and SA misses out.”
Despite his disappointment, Shahin said The Bend intended to fulfil the remaining two years of its contract with Supercars as well as trying to lure other championships to race at the circuit.
“Australia is awash with great categories that still aspire to race at Australia’s best motorsport facility,” he said.
“We will welcome them, we will treat them with respect, and we will ensure that they have a great experience.”
Supercars said the decision to further revise the provisional calendar announced in May was made following consultation with stakeholders including team owners and broadcast partners.
“The calendar announced in May was based on the best information we had at the time,” Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer said.
“With an eye on 2021, teams and broadcast partners have agreed it is in all parties’ best interests commercially and competitively to finish this year’s campaign in December and start the new season in the new year.”
The 2020 Supercars championship resumes at Sydney Motorsport Park next weekend.