SUPERCARS is officially heading back to Mount Panorama next February to get its 2024 season underway.
As had become expected amid the at least temporary downfall of the Newcastle 500, a deal has been struck for an additional Supercars visit to Bathurst next year, as was done in 2021.
It will form part of a 10-day Bathurst SuperFest, starting with the Supercars-owned Bathurst 12 Hour on February 16-18 and culminating in the Bathurst 500 the following weekend (February 23-25).
In between there will be “a week-long program of community events to celebrate the start of the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship”.
The Dunlop Super2/Super3 Series has also been confirmed as the chief support category at the ‘500’.
“The Bathurst SuperFest will give fans close to two weeks to celebrate some of the best drivers in the world, taking on Mount Panorama,” said Supercars CEO Shane Howard.
“Combining two marquee race meetings into the one major event in summer is an exciting initiative and we can’t wait to see fans fill the Mountain and be a part of the action.
“We thank the NSW Government and Bathurst Regional Council for supporting our vision to bring something new to fans.”
John Graham, the New South Wales Minister for Jobs and Tourism, hailed the outcome after the state government had supported the Newcastle 500’s renewal in vain.
MORE: Supercars eyes 2025 Newcastle 500 relaunch
“The NSW Government is thrilled to partner with Supercars to once again to deliver more rounds of the 2024 Supercars series here in NSW than any other state,” he said.
V8 Sleuth’s coverage of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is proudly presented by Bad Boy Mowers – explore the world of Bad Boy Mowers with the new Spring/Summer catalogue of high-performance mowers here.
“We are particularly excited to be hosting two rounds at the nation’s home of motorsport, Mount Panorama-Wahluu in Bathurst, including the opening round of the 2024 Supercars season with the Bathurst 500 as part of Bathurst SuperFest.
“This is a fantastic outcome for the sport, for the fans, for the community of Bathurst and for the people of NSW.”
With negotiations around a 13th event of the season at The Bend dragging out, the 2024 calendar has started to become official bit by bit rather than in full just yet.
What’s certain is the championship will head to Taupo Motorsport Park on April 19-21, Townsville on July 5-7, and the Gold Coast on October 25-27.
Albert Park will host the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on March 22-24.
The 2024 season will follow a state-of-the-art off-season parity testing program including the use of the Windshear wind tunnel in the United States.
