MOTORSPORT: 2020 Supercars calendar closer

The path for the resumption of V8 Supercars and other professional motorsports in Australia has become a little clearer following a meeting of the national cabinet today (May 1).

As the COVID-19 pandemic starts to subside, the national cabinet -- which comprises federal and state parliamentary leadership -- rolled out a 15-principle three-stage plan for professional and recreational sport to resume.

Next Friday, the national cabinet is likely to permit the first steps in the resumption of sports and recreation on a broad basis.

Shortly after national cabinet wound up the Queensland state government approved the cross-border travel of National Rugby League players so their season could resume on May 28.

This is significant for Supercars as if it can gain a similar exemption then that would allow southern teams to cross the currently closed Queensland border to contest the Townsville street race on June 26-28.

Of course, it would also fee up Queensland teams to leave the state for Supercars events.

Supercars has currently nominated mid-May as its deadline to reveal its revised 2020 calendar and formats, as that’s the latest date construction at Townsville can begin.

Of course there are plenty of other hurdles to cross, such as potential quarantine rules and so on, but Supercars has signalled it will be investigating the implications of the NRL exemption.

The key principle announced by national cabinet today as far as Supercars and professional motorsport categories are concerned is that “elite sports” must remain spectator-free for the “foreseeable future”.

Which means even if the season resumes as currently listed at Winton in Victoria on June 3-5 it will be without fans, without many (if any) support events and be for TV-only.

Speaking earlier today before the outcomes of the national cabinet meeting were revealed, Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said mid-May remained the timing for the category’s revised calendar and formats to be unveiled.

“We don’t anticipate any change to us providing an update for another couple of weeks yet,” Seamer told a motorsport media phone conference.

Seamer said many different scenarios for dates, venues and formats were being considered.

“Everything is on the table as you can imagine,” he said. “Ultimately the format of the races will be a combination of what the teams are able to deliver and turn around their cars with from a damage and wear and tear point of view in conjunction with what our broadcast partners are looking for.

“We are working on multiple permutations of Supercars only, Supercars with supports, Supercars with fans. Our plans include everything and it has to because things are going to evolve over time quite quickly.

“Our plans have every circumstance catered for and as government advice and restrictions change we can mould and adapt those plans.”

Seamer has forecast the championship could finish as far out as February 2021 at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama circuit.