A full 13-round championship that includes a return to Perth and New Zealand will be raced in the 2022 running of the Repco Supercars Championship.
Adelaide is back on the calendar, thanks to a mid-year visit to The Bend, while Supercars hopes for a return of the Adelaide 500 street race in 2023.
But Phillip Island and Queensland Raceway are both out.
Next year’s series will bank its multimillion-dollar support from the NSW government by starting in Newcastle and finishing at Sydney Motorsport Park, as the Bathurst 1000 returns to its traditional date on the first weekend in October.
The calendar is still subject to COVID-19 restrictions and limitations, but Supercars is hopeful that there will be no major changes after two highly disrupted seasons that saw this year’s series end with four straight events at SMP and then the postponed Repco Bathurst 1000 later than ever on the first Sunday in December.
The inclusion of The Bend is being painted as a big win for Supercars and its fans, although a change of government at next year’s state election – where the opposition’s election promises include a return of the Adelaide 500 – would mean it is only a one-year stop-gap.
“Our South Australian fans are amongst the most passionate in the country and we’re delighted to be able to put on a show for them once again in 2022,” said Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard.
“The Bend is a world-class facility that has produced great racing over the past four years which is why we are excited to be returning again in July.”
2022 Repco Supercars Championship calendar:
Mar 4-6 – Repco Newcastle 500, Newcastle Street Circuit, NSW
Mar 26-27 – Tasmania SuperSprint, Symmons Plains, Tas
Apr 7-10 – Melbourne, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, Vic
Apr 30-May 1 – Bunnings Trade Perth SuperNight, Wanneroo Raceway, WA
May 21-22 – Winton SuperSprint, Winton Raceway, Vic
June 18-19 – Merlin Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley, NT
July 8-10 – NTI Townsville 500, Reid Park, Qld
July 30-31 – The Bend SuperSprint, Tailem Bend, SA
Aug 19-21 – Penrite Sandown SuperSprint, Melbourne, Vic
Sept 10-11 – ITM Auckland SuperSprint, Auckland, NZ
Oct 6-9 – Repco Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama, NSW
Oct 28-30 – Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, Surfers Paradise, Qld
Nov 18-20 – Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW