Anyway the good news is, as far as I am concerned, that in the 2023 Calendar released today THE SANDOWN 500 IS BACK!!
It is part of Supercars that event, and to me the annual hit out with a co-driver race before Bathurst is the proper way. Needless to say its in its traditional spot pre the big one. Giving co drivers some miles before going to Bathurst might help avoid some of the carnage we saw this year. Not seen a Sandown 500 since 2018 so its about time. First non Bathurst co driver / enduro since 2019 as well.
We have 12 rounds set for 2023, one less than this year....with the return of Newcastle to the schedule, both Winton and the New Zealand event have been dropped, while Tony Quinn’s Queensland Raceway also remains off the calendar.... so a bit.sad no New Zealand round confirmed given the support they give the V8s and not to mention, a number of the drivers!
Of course as we know this coming season will see the intro of Gen 3, Camaros v Mustangs, from round 1
Anyway a summary of the season..... one thing I will mention is that the GP round will be a different format to normal..... Given the AGP also will have the FIA F2 and F3 categories on the card there is a lot of racing to fit in so it may be SC get shorter races, niot sure yet. All we know atm is the format will be different to the 4 sprint race norm.
The 2023 Supercars season begins with the Thrifty Newcastle 500 on March 10-12, before the Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 takes place when the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix occurs at Albert Park from March 30-April 2.
The Perth SuperSprint has been brought forward as Event 3 of the season, taking place at Wanneroo on April 28-30, with Supercars announcing a new, multi-year deal with the Western Australia Government.
The Ned Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint at Symmons Plains moves back to May 19-21 but the northern swing is unchanged, with the Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley on June 16-18 and the NTI Townsville 500 on July 7-9.
The Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight will be held on July 28-30, followed by the OTR SuperSprint at The Bend on August 18-20.
Making its return on September 15-17 will be the Penrite Oil Sandown 500, three weeks before the 60th anniversary edition of the Repco Bathurst 1000 takes place on October 5-8.
The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 stays a single-driver event, on October 27-29, before the 2023 Supercars season draws to a close on November 23-26 with the Valo Adelaide 500.
2023 Supercars calendar
Round# Event. Circuit Date
1. Thrifty Newcastle 500 Newcastle East Street Circuit, Newcastle, NSW Mar 10-12
2. Beaurepaires Melbourne 400 F1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix Albert Park GP Circuit, Melbourne, VIC Mar 30-Apr 2
3. Perth SuperSprint Wanneroo Raceway, Perth, WA Apr 28-30
4. Ned Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint Symmons Plains International Raceway, near Launceston, TAS May 19-21
5. Darwin Triple Crown Hidden Valley Raceway, Darwin, NT Jun 16-18
6. NTI Townsville 500 Reid Park Street Circuit, Townsville, QLD Jul 7-9
7. Beaurepaires Sydney SuperNight Sydney Motorsport Park, Sydney, NSW Jul 28-30
8. OTR SuperSprint The Bend Motorsport Park, Tailem Bend, SA Aug 18-20
9. Penrite Oil Sandown 500 Sandown International Motor Raceway, Melbourne, VIC Sep 15-17 Enduro
10. Repco Bathurst 1000 Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit, Bathurst, NSW Oct 5-8 Enduro
11. Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 Surfers Paradise Street Circuit, Gold Coast, QLD Oct 27-29
12. Valo Adelaide 500 Adelaide Parklands Circuit, Adelaide, SA Nov 23-26
