MOTORSPORT: IndyCar and Supercars plan Sydney race

The US IndyCar series and Supercars could combine to begin their 2021 championships at Sydney Motorsport Park.

The possibilities and permutations of a February or March 2021 date are currently being worked through between IndyCar, Supercars and the NSW state government, according to report in today’s issue of Auto Action magazine.

If the deal does come together it would be the first time the action-packed North American open-wheel series has raced in Australia since 2008 on the Gold Coast.

It would also mean the Adelaide 500 would lose its traditional place at the start of the V8 tin-top championship.

However, AA reports Supercars would likely make Adelaide the closing round of the 2021 championship, replacing the Newcastle street race that currently occupies that spot.

The return of IndyCar to Australia has been mooted often in recent times, with the Gold Coast mentioned as the preferred location.

But that venue is now locked into an October date for the next five years, which doesn’t work with IndyCar’s desire to race in Australia early in its season.

The Sydney Motorsport Park option make sense as it is graded by the FIA to a level that complies with racing the powerful IndyCars and the venue is now the centre of a $33 million investment plan by the state government to create a motorsport industry hub.

“If they want to come out to Australia and race with us, we will do everything we can to help them and manage the event, but ultimately that’s for them to work through,” Supercars CEO Sean Seamer told AA, confirming IndyCars’ interest in returning to Australia.

There is cross-pollination between IndyCar and Supercars as two team owners from the former – Roger Penske and Michael Andretti – have investments in the latter.

Australia’s 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power races for Penske in IndyCar.