THE Repco Supercars Championship could expand its presence on Formula 1’s calendar as soon as next season, according to chairman Barclay Nettlefold.
Nettlefold spearheads the RACE consortium which purchased Supercars late last year.
Plans to re-enter the international arena were quickly flagged and even as the 2023 Supercars calendar approaches finalisation, Nettlefold is not ruling out imminently furthering its F1 involvement beyond the annual Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park.
“Absolutely. We’re excited,” he told V8 Sleuth at Bathurst.
“We have been really busy just getting through development of the Gen3 cars and also with the major events that we’ve got at the end of the year, because we have got a number of spectacular events coming up.
“But certainly we believe that we have got the ability to do some F1 category support next year, which is exciting.
“If we get one in (in addition to the Australian Grand Prix), that would be great.”
The Singapore Grand Prix is considered the front-runner.
The 2023 edition of the F1 night street race is scheduled for September 15-17 – three weeks before the traditional Repco Bathurst 1000 date.
Nettlefold noted such an event could either replace an existing local fixture or add to what is otherwise expected to be a 12-round schedule.
Supercars’ future expansion plans include hopes of a return to the United States. Its only previous visit to the USA came at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in 2013.
Next season has been confirmed to begin with the Newcastle 500 on March 10-12.
