SUPERCARS boss Shane Howard is hopeful the championship can join Formula 1 at the Singapore Grand Prix as soon as 2024.
As V8 Sleuth reported in October, Singapore is a high priority for Supercars, with chairman/co-owner Barclay Nettlefold at that point still optimistic of it featuring on the 2023 calendar.
That has not come to fruition, with an all-Australian 12-round schedule since unveiled.
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But Howard confirmed there were meaningful discussions around the 2023 Singapore GP, which clashes with the date that the reborn Sandown 500 eventually landed on.
He also noted the idea will be revisited for 2024.
“Absolutely we would like to be part of that event and they would like to have us there,” Howard said when asked by V8 Sleuth about Singapore.
As for why it didn’t quite work out for the first year of Gen3, Howard explained: “Just probably more the commercial side of it.
“The impacts of the freight are significant, so just trying to work on that side of it and look how we can get that freight into a cheaper model.
“Our focus this year and also going into next year is really Gen3, getting that right.
“It buys us a bit more time in considering 2024 because we’ll know where we are with the cars and the racing and it allows us to look at other models to reduce the freight cost.”
Several F1 events beyond Melbourne are being considered, but Singapore is atop the wish list.
“Singapore is very good because of the time zone, it’s very good for us, and actually the distance helps, the shorter distance,” added Howard.
The ongoing VALO Adelaide 500 is the final round for the current-generation Supercars, before the Gen3 Mustang and Camaro debut at Newcastle next March.
