Supercars optimistic about April return to NZ
Supercars CEO Sean Seamer is confident there will be a round of the series back in New Zealand next year, with April pencilled in.
The annual race on this side of the Tasman is the biggest sporting event in New Zealand each year.
But for 2020 it jumped all over the schedule, initially at Pukekohe Park Raceway, then Hampton Downs, then pushed back to early 2021, before being cancelled altogether because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at the launch of Repco as Supercars’ new naming rights sponsor for the next five years, Seamer told Stuff he was optimistic about the category being back in New Zealand in 2021.
‘‘Our current plans for the calendar for next year as it relates to getting back to New Zealand, we’re still working on being there in April,’’ Seamer said.
‘‘We planned to do that this year, but we’ll confirm that just after Bathurst, the timing for announcing the calendar is just after Bathurst this year.’’
The New Zealand race was hastily switched from Pukekohe to Hampton Downs just before last Christmas when it became apparent that the Auckland Unitary Plan banned motor racing at Pukekohe Park on Anzac Day.
When the event was briefly moved to January 2021, but still part of the 2020 season, there were thoughts it would shift back to Pukekohe.
Seamer said no decision has been made on where the New Zealand round would be held, but did hint that Hampton Downs might keep it.
‘‘Our position hasn’t changed as it relates to Hampton Downs, given all of the great work they did for us, particularly over Christmas last year,’’ Seamer said.
‘‘We’ll work through that with all the key partners involved . . . and we’ll come to a conclusion on that in the next few weeks.’’
A New Zealand round of the series would be reliant on a trans-Tasman bubble going up, firstly to allow non Kiwis to enter the country and secondly to avoid the drivers and staff from having to isolate for two weeks, which would be impractical.
If the bubble isn’t up in early 2021, Seamer said they would look at shifting the New Zealand round to later in the year.
‘‘Absolutely,’’ he said. ‘‘What we’ve seen with our partners in New Zealand is that there’s a lot of flexibility around the date and location of that event, because of everything we’ve been through not only this year, but in planning for this year, with the change from Pukekohe to Hampton Downs.
‘‘The Kiwis are an entrepreneurial bunch and we’ll make it happen one way or another.’’