MOTORSPORT: Supercars confirms Newcastle grand final

A street circuit around the seaside environs of NSW's second city, Newcastle, will be the new venue for the final round of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship (VASC) for the next five years.

The championship announced that from next year the Hunter (NSW) region 'capital' will replace the unloved Homebush Olympic Precinct this morning. The agreement to stage the race in Newcastle is for an initial period of five years.

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Supercars Australia Chief Executive James Warburton made the announcement.

"The Hunter has thousands of Supercars fans who now have an event to call their own," Premier Baird stated.

"The Coates Hire Newcastle 500 will be the first Supercars race ever held in Newcastle and is another major event secured for Regional NSW. It's a picturesque course that takes in some of the city's best landmarks, including Nobby's Beach and Fort Scratchley," he said.

Since it was first staged in 2009, the Homebush round of the Supercar championship has had a chequered history on and off the track. The establishment of the circuit was even the subject of enquires by NSW's Independent Commission Against Corruption. The track's design has also been called into question on a number of occasions and is generally disliked by the teams. The beachside Newcastle layout should provide better pictures if nothing else.

The Newcastle announcement has been expected for some time. Supercars will announce its full 2017 calendar later today. It's been widely reported that the formula will sidestep plans to race point-scoring rounds in Asia until 2018 at least.

The Newcastle event will be underwritten by Destination NSW and will run in partnership with Supercars Australia and Newcastle City Council. The event will conclude the 2017 season in mid-November. This is earlier than the traditional December Homebush finale.