V8 Supercars race return for Sydney Motorsport Park

A racing return to Sydney Motorsport Park will feature on the 2014 V8 Supercars Championship calendar, set to be released later today.

It was announced earlier this month that SMP will host V8 Supercars’ pre-season test for the next three years as part of the category’s’ new deal with the New South Wales Government to continue the Homebush street race.

A second visit to the Western Sydney venue, however, will take place via a full points paying event in August.

The championship has raced at SMP just once since 2008, with its appearance in the schedule last year only coming about due to a late reshuffle following the withdrawal of the Abu Dhabi event.

For the second time since 2004, next year will see every V8 Supercars event held in Australasia, with the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, dropping off the schedule after just a single visit.

Initially touted as a five-year deal, the COTA is said to have lost considerable money on the inaugural event.

Although declining to discuss any details, V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton told Speedcafe.com late last week that the new calendar will feature “a consolidation of our domestic product”.

As previously reported, next season will see a streamlined series of race formats, with all rounds to again feature pitstops.

As many as seven events are expected to boast twilight races following a major push for the concept from Warburton.

Today will see V8 Supercars announce its 2014 calendar and confirm that this year’s Homebush season finale will include a twilight finish on Saturday evening.