THE New South Wales state government has not given up hope of the Newcastle 500 being retained as Supercars’ season-opening event.
Newcastle has proven the hold-up to Supercars releasing its 2024 calendar, and it’s known that alternative plans are now advanced to kick off next year’s championship at Mount Panorama, in a separate spectacle to the annual Bathurst 1000 in October.
That would be as the second prong in a 10-day February festival, the first element of which would be dedicated to the Supercars-owned GT-centred Bathurst 12 Hour.
Supercars and the NSW government reiterated their support for the Newcastle street race as recently as late last month, leaving the event’s future in the hands of the third relevant party: the city’s council.
There has been some ongoing residential backlash to Supercars racing through the streets of Newcastle East, and the growing feeling is that council is treading water until it’s too late for the 500 to be renewed.
NSW Premier Chris Minns called on council to be upfront about whether it’s planning on killing the event or supporting it.
“We want Supercars in Newcastle and we’ve commenced discussions about a multi-year deal with that organisation. They’re happy with that,” Minns declared.
“And really, I think it’s time for council to make a decision about it.
“My hope is that they go ahead with it. At the end of the day, their objection about a one-year deal is nonsensical as far as I can tell.
“We have got the money on the table for the race to go ahead this time, this year (2024), let’s get on with it.”
When asked about speculation on the potential for Round 1 to shift to Bathurst, as it did in 2021, Minns immediately turned the focus back to Newcastle.
“They have got a unique event on the foreshore in Newcastle. It’s hugely popular,” he continued.
“We’re committed to funding and have provided funding for this year and we have commenced negotiations for a multi-year deal with Supercars, and if the council doesn’t want to go ahead with it, they’re going to have to own that decision and announce it publicly.
“It shouldn’t be neither here nor there. If they’re worried about this year’s funding, they shouldn’t be: it’s on the table and it’s ready to go.”
Little else is expected to change year-on-year in terms of the Supercars schedule, beyond the addition of Taupo Motorsport Park for the first time.
