More Positive Calendar News For ARG Events
Phillip Island is back and Bathurst is a lock as the Australian Racing Group gets moving with its latest race calendar for TCR Australia, S5000 single seaters and its other categories in 2021.
The postponed event at The Island, which was hit by the latest Victorian quarantine, has been re-scheduled while Bathurst has a firm date at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the S5000 open-wheelers have also been confirmed for the Supercars meeting at Sandown in March.
The revised date for Phillip Island is March 12-14, but there has been a casualty as the planned Australian Superbike Championship component of the 2+4 meeting has been lost.
In its place, the Porsche Sprint Challenge category will join the program for the first round of the Shannons Motorsport Australian Championships.
“To secure a replacement date just weeks after the original intended date is an excellent result for the Australian Racing Group’s suite of categories,” said the CEO of ARG, Matt Braid.
“The fast result means that the great momentum that was created from our opening round at Symmons Plains remains and we can get back on track.”
On March 20-21, the third round of the four-event S5000 Gold Star series will be run at Sandown, where the V8-powered open-wheelers starred back in 2019, as the high-profile support to Supercars.
“Following the disappointment of losing our initial Phillip Island date, this is a great outcome for S5000 and a double-whammy for the category,” said the S5000 category manager, Chris Lambden.
“Phillip Island followed by Sandown will ensure an incredible fortnight of racing on two of the most historic circuits in Australia and both places where S5000 will shine.
But the best news is the date for the Bathurst International, which will run from November 26-28 and include the TCR Bathurst 500 – still intended to be a two-driver race with international entries.
“The race will allow drivers and teams from around the world to compete on a level playing field in the turbo-charged touring cars,” said Braid.
Apart from the regular ARG support categories – S5000, Trans Am and Touring Car Masters – the Bathurst program will include the final event of the GT Endurance Crown with a three-hour enduro for flashy GT3 sports cars.
“The late November date will make this event not only a jewel in the Australian motorsport calendar, but also around the world. Despite the travel restrictions that exist today, this date will allow the opportunity for international competitors to consider the Bathurst International as a way to end their season of racing,” said Braid.
