THE dates of two Formula 1 grands prix which Supercars could potentially feature at in 2024 have been confirmed.
F1 launched overnight a 24-round calendar for next year with a key theme being regionalisation – i.e. grouping events geographically to minimise round-to-round travel distances.
Australia has been listed as Round 3 of the season, running March 22-24 in Melbourne. The 2024 Adelaide Motorsport Festival will be held a week earlier, March 15-17.
Supercars’ future at Albert Park remains up in the air, the 2023 Australian Grand Prix having been the last edition on the championship’s existing contract.
Supercars CEO Shane Howard revealed there is a two-year extension option that could take the relationship forward into 2025.
Whether that is taken up is to be seen, with the AGP perhaps needing Supercars less than ever given the presence of Formula 2 and Formula 3 as lead support categories at the event.
MORE: Pitlane plan clouds Supercars’ AGP future
Howard though maintained Supercars wants to be affiliated with the phenomenon that is modern F1.
If Supercars does stay at Albert Park, a March 22-24 slot figures to be a likely Round 2 after the Newcastle 500 if that itself gets renewed.
Another key F1 piece of the puzzle on the radar for Supercars owner RACE has been Singapore.
Regionalisation efforts have not drastically changed the 2024 date of the Marina Bay spectacle, slated for September 20-22.
If anything, that encroaching slightly closer to the Repco Bathurst 1000’s traditional timing could complicate Supercars’ desire to race on the Singapore undercard.
The 2024 Great Race would presumably be held across either October 3-6 or October 10-13, making for a tight turnaround on international freight.
It’s also worth noting there is a push to make a big deal of the 60th anniversary Sandown 500 in 2024, and including Singapore would rule Sandown out as being the direct precursor to Bathurst.
Other possible F1 targets for Supercars could include the Middle East – Saudi Arabia at one point was suggested, perhaps owing to connections through Martin Whitaker – but all four of the region’s 2024 races bookend the calendar.
While Supercars doesn’t officially have a long-term season-opener secured – any new Newcastle 500 deal might change that – Adelaide is cemented as the championship’s annual finale.
FULL 2024 FORMULA 1 CALENDAR
Bahrain: February 29-March 2
Saudi Arabia: March 7-9
Australia: March 22-24
Japan: April 5-7
China: April 19-21
Miami: May 3-5
Imola: May 17-19
Monaco: May 24-26
Canada: June 7-9
Spain: June 21-23
Austria: June 28-30
United Kingdom: July 5-7
Hungary: July 19-21
Belgium: July 26-28
Netherlands: August 23-25
Monza/Italy: August 30-September 1
Azerbaijan: September 13-15
Singapore: September 20-22
Austin/US: October 18-20
Mexico City: October 25-27
Brazil: November 1-3
Las Vegas: November 21-23
Qatar: November 29-December 1
Abu Dhabi: December 6-8
