THE full 2023 Repco Supercars Championship schedule has been set in stone, with 12 events to see in the new Gen3 era of racing.
It’s been a long wait for the calendar, with several protracted negotiations including efforts to secure a New Zealand replacement for the closing-down Pukekohe.
Those have ultimately not come to fruition, meaning Supercars won’t make the trip across the ditch again until at least 2024 – and in turn providing a lifeline to The Bend.
Winton has also been dropped, while Newcastle returns in its new place as the season-opener.
Both Queensland Raceway and Winton will purely act as test tracks for the championship’s northern and southern teams, respectively.
Supercars meanwhile has struck a new multi-year deal with the Western Australian Government to protect the Perth event.
Wanneroo though will not run under lights in 2023, making Sydney Motorsport Park (July 28-30) the only SuperNight event of the year.
As expected, there will be a multi-round endurance season for the first time since 2019, Sandown resuming its place as the 500km curtain-raiser to the Repco Bathurst 1000.
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The season will draw to a close at the VALO Adelaide 500 on November 23-26.
In total, the calendar will flow as follows: Newcastle, Albert Park, Perth, Symmons Plains, Hidden Valley, Townsville, Sydney Motorsport Park, The Bend, Sandown, Bathurst, Gold Coast and Adelaide.
Six of those rounds will feature on free-to-air (listed below), while the Dunlop Super2/Super3 Series will consist of stops at Newcastle, Perth, Townsville, Sandown, Bathurst and Adelaide.
“With the Camaro vs Mustang debut, the return of the Sandown 500 and our marquee event, the Repco Bathurst 1000, celebrating its 60th anniversary, 2023 is shaping as one of the most exciting in the history of our sport,” said Supercars CEO Shane Howard.
“This year we have seen huge crowds return to our events and Adelaide is shaping as a spectacular finale for the Holden Commodore and Ford Mustang rivalry.
“We cannot wait to rollout out our Gen3 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro at Newcastle in March.
“What an amazing way to start the new chapter of racing for our sport.”
Repco CEO Wayne Bryant added: “The 2023 Repco Supercars Championship is one of the most anticipated in years, and the mix of venues is the perfect backdrop for the new Gen3 Supercars.
“This championship is a truly world class with a fantastic mix of permanent circuits, street tracks and, of course, the Repco Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama.
“On track, there are going to be so many unknowns in 2023, but I do know that the crew at Repco across Australia and New Zealand are excited to be along for the ride and we can’t wait to see a full field of Gen3 cars grid up in Newcastle.”
2023 Repco Supercars Championship calendar
| Rd | Date | Circuit | Event | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar 10-12 | Newcastle | Thrifty Newcastle 500 | 7 & FOX |
| 2 | Mar 30-Apr 2 | Albert Park | Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 | FOX |
| 3 | Apr 28-30 | CARCO.com.au Raceway | Perth SuperSprint | FOX |
| 4 | May 19-21 | Symmons Plains | NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint | FOX |
| 5 | Jun 16-18 | Hidden Valley | Darwin Triple Crown | 7 & FOX |
| 6 | Jul 7-9 | Townsville | NTI Townsville 500 | 7 & FOX |
| 7 | Jul 28-30 | Sydney Motorsport Park | Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight | FOX |
| 8 | Aug 18-20 | The Bend | OTR SuperSprint | FOX |
| 9 | Sep 15-17 | Sandown | Penrite Oil Sandown 500 | FOX |
| 10 | Oct 5-8 | Mount Panorama | Repco Bathurst 1000 | 7 & FOX |
| 11 | Oct 27-29 | Surfers Paradise | Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 | 7 & FOX |
| 12 | Nov 23-26 | Adelaide | VALO Adelaide 500 | 7 & FOX |
