Back to Back SMP with Fans and Lights
Fans and floodlights will transform Sydney Motorsport Park as Supercars goes for a back-to-back return to racing.
Winton is out for now as Supercars copies the double-header approach from Formula One with a return visit to Sydney in its revised 2020 calendar.
A limited number of fans will definitely be present at SMP on July 18-19 and Supercars is also hopeful that wiring of the circuit’s giant light towers will be completed in time for a night race on the Saturday.
Supercars has scrambled to revise the calendar after COVID-19 protocols changed this week in both Victoria and Queensland.
The tighter regulations have already hit football codes, as a spike in COVID cases in Melbourne has triggered tighter restrictions – including 14-day isolation – for Queenslanders and visitors to the state.
“Following discussions with all government health authorities on the new interstate restrictions, the practicable solution is to go back to Sydney Motorsport Park later this month,” says the CEO of Supercars, Sean Seamer.
“Sydney Motorsport Park was a logical choice as we have a proven track record of completing a safe event there based on what we achieved last week.”
Winton is only postponed because the Victorian government had previously committed extra funding to the race as a tourism drawcard.
The plan for SMP means the meeting will be the second with fans, following Hidden Valley in Darwin, although numbers and ticketing details are still being finalised.
The decision on spectators comes after the successful implementation of the restrictions at the comeback meeting at SMP, which was only attended by 13-member teams, officials and essential broadcast staff.
“All personnel at the event successfully maintained social distancing at Sydney Motorsport Park last weekend and will adhere to the same protocols for the event next month,” says Seamer.
There will be strict measures in place to ensure teams remain isolated from each other, fans will be requested to maintain social distancing, and paddock access will be restricted to racing teams and officials while corporate facilities will remain closed.
The Truck Assist Sydney SuperSprint will run at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 18-19.
