MOTORSPORT: Bathurst International postponed until 2021

The delayed start to the carsales TCR Australia Series has been pushed back again.

The new setback comes with the postponement of the planned Bathurst International, which should have run on November 13-15 as the biggest individual event on the Australian motorsport calendar for 2020 with support categories including S5000 single-seaters, Touring Car Masters and Trans Am.

Instead, the Australian Racing Group is now focussing its Bathurst efforts on Easter in 2021 and turning the TCR attention to the planned double-header in Tasmania in December.

The postponement was delayed as long as possible, but with ongoing COVID-19 restrictions the decision was finally made by ARG and the Bathurst Regional Council citing the need for more than 2000 people to make the event run - the majority from outside NSW.

“We have waited as long as practical to make this decision but we needed to consider local businesses, competitors and their families, our volunteers and other service providers and provide a timely decision so as not adversely impact their families, their plans or incur unnecessary costs,” says Matt Braid, CEO of ARG.

“It is obviously very disappointing to postpone the inaugural running of the Bathurst International. No stone was left unturned in the attempt to hold a viable and top class motorsport event, however, the border restrictions that our competitors faced made it an impossible situation.”

The Council and ARG are already working on a plan that will introduce the Bathurst International in 2021, perhaps with the international TCR contingent that was originally intended to create a born-again two-driver Bathurst 500 as its centrepiece.

“We look forward to 2021 and Mount Panorama hosting the first Bathurst International and bringing the excitement of this planned new event to Bathurst,” says the Mayor, councillor Bobby Bourke.

“Council went through an extensive process to select a new fifth event for Mount Panorama and we can’t wait to see the event come to life next year.”

ARG says it is now shifting its Bathurst focus to the Easter event in 2021, which is scheduled for April 2-4.

The 6-Hour race for production cars will continue as the focus and, although Braid is not discussing any plans, there is a clear opportunity for a TCR component.

He is promising a number of innovations and boost the profile of the event and improve the planned television coverage.

“We can’t wait to showcase a great production car race along with other exciting categories,” Braid says.

ARG is already working to ensure that anyone who purchased spectator tickets or a campsite for the Bathurst International will get a full refund as soon as possible.