MOTORSPORT: TCR start date slips again

Bathurst in November is the new target for the carsales TCR Australia Series.

Ongoing coronavirus delays have continually pushed the start date for the series back since the abortive Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in March and the new target for racing is November 12-15.

The Bathurst International weekend was always planned as the showcase for the 2.0-litre turbocharged touring cars, with a re-born Bathurst 500 as the centrepiece as a two-driver contest with a giant overseas contingent.

Foreign fighters are definitely out for 2020 but TCR organiser, the Australian Racing Group, is still hopeful that the Bathurst weekend will go ahead as intended.

“Bathurst is paramount to us. At this stage it looks viable to proceed. It’s a case of what options are viable before Bathurst,” the CEO of ARG, Matt Braid, tells carsales.

Even so, Braid says ARG and Motorsport Australia are continuing their ongoing negotiations with state governments over pandemic restrictions after a series of retreats and re-sets to adjust to the changing COVID-19 situation.

“At this stage there are a couple of options being explored. If there is scope to have an event with a set attendance, including fans, that makes it feasible with a good group of competitors,” Braid says of Bathurst.

“We were going to be going on the first weekend in September, at Sydney Motorsport Park, but that was ruled out. It’s been postponed.

“Now we’re seeing where we will be able to go beyond that, whether it’s sometime in October.”

The Bathurst International is still shaping as a landmark event, including a new single-seater showcase.

Approval for S5000 single-seaters to race at Mount Panorama adds extra impact to the event, as the V8-powered open-wheelers will be fast and spectacular and easily capable of cracking 300km/h on Conrod Straight.

A growing number of historic Australian touring cars from the Bathurst 1000 are also being confirmed for supporting races at the meeting.

But the shape of the headline act for the TCR cars and crews is still not clear.

Braid says TCR Australia has been heavily impacted by border closures and quarantines because of the widespread footprint of its various teams, and because they are semi-professional or amateurs and cannot afford extended periods away from their homes and businesses.

“We are looking at all the options and a way to go forward. It’s a cliche, but there are phone calls and meetings about it every day.

“Motorsport Australia are being great, and we’re following their lead. They are dealing with government departments in every state.

Braid identifies a number of key challenges for the TCR categories, which are spread through the eastern stages.

“The issue for us is in the movement of personnel, particularly teams and drivers. For a national sport, like the one that we’re involved in, you need flexibility in the borders until that becomes clear …”

He is not committing to dates or locations but is continually adjusting the timetable.

“There are various options being discussed. Once the Victorian lockdown is concluded and the dust settles we’ll have a clearer picture. The Queensland border is the biggest unknown at this stage,” he says.

“For us, we’re waiting until we can see a clearer path on the build-up to run events in various states.”