The Repco Supercars Championship has earmarked its return to the streets of Newcastle in 2023, though its fixture on the calendar beyond that is up for debate.
Supercars organisers have confirmed a proposed March 10-12 date with the local council for the fourth edition of the Newcastle 500.
The championship hasn’t featured at the Newcastle East Street Circuit since 2019, owing to challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Should next year’s race go ahead, it would be the last event as part of the initial five-year agreement.
Although today’s announcement did not confirm as much, this year’s planned Newcastle 500 will not go ahead.
“We can confirm that Supercars has applied to stage the Newcastle 500 for the proposed dates of 10-12 March 2023 (dates subject to approvals), as the championship opening event,” a Supercars spokesperson said.
“Supercars can confirm that permission has been sought with Heritage NSW for the proposed 2023 event date, and another four years of racing in Newcastle.
“That permit would allow all key stakeholders, including Supercars, Destination NSW and City of Newcastle to discuss the future of the event beyond 2023.
“We look forward to working with our key stakeholders on securing this event for Newcastle in the future.”
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Beyond 2023, the return of the Newcastle 500 hangs on a new agreement with the City of Newcastle.
Supercars has been protected by its existing agreement, allowing the race to go ahead largely without opposition.
There is, however, a small but vocal group around the racing precinct who oppose the event.
A week out from the first running of the race in 2017, local residents held a protest on the circuit, drawing peace signs and slogans on the asphalt with chalk.
That came just days after “super lame” was tagged on a tyre bundle while other reports indicated poison was used to inscribe “super corrupt” into a grass embankment.
According to a City of Newcastle spokesperson, a new agreement would take into consideration community feedback.
“City of Newcastle is working with Supercars Australia on a tentative date for a final Newcastle 500 event in 2023 under the existing five-year agreement,” the spokesperson said.
“This final event would be delivered under existing arrangements, the same as the successful events of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“Supercars Australia has submitted a new application under Section 60 (S60) of the Heritage Act 1977 to facilitate the holding of the last Newcastle 500 event in 2023, as the existing S60 for the Camp Shortland area expired in April.
“Whilst this heritage approval is a requirement, the S60 does not in itself provide approval or authority to conduct the race in Newcastle. This is provided under the NSW Motor Sports Events Act 2022 and agreements between the NSW Government, Supercars Australia and City of Newcastle.
“The future of the Newcastle 500 beyond the final race is a decision of the NSW Government in the first instance, requiring a new agreement between Destination NSW and Supercars Australia.
“Any inclusion of Newcastle as a potential host city for another five years will be subject to broad community and stakeholder consultation, to be undertaken by City of Newcastle, and a decision of the elected council.”
Triple Eight Race Engineering remains the most successful team in Newcastle with three wins to their credit ahead of Dick Johnson Racing on two and Erebus Motorsport with one.
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