Bathurst Regional Council has announced a shortlist of three expressions of interest for the potential fifth event at the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit.

A total of six EOIs were received last month for what is the last vacant slot allowed for a full track closure as per New South Wales legislation.

The three shortlisted parties are:

• Australian Racing Group & CAMS
• Mountain Motor Sports
• Supercars

As such, the parties which have been rejected are:

• Ontic Sports Pty Ltd
• 24 Hours of Lemons Australia Pty Ltd
• Creventic International

Council’s announcement means that a round for the now TCR-based World Touring Car Cup which would be held in conjunction with TCR Australia, as reported by Speedcafe.com, is still in play.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer, meanwhile, has ruled out a return to holding a sprint event in Bathurst, although he would not confirm rumours of plans to run a Goodwood Festival of Speed-style event.

“What we want to try and do is something different,” he told Speedcafe.com.

“What I can tell you is won’t be a sprint race out there and it won’t be another 1000 or endurance race.”

Mountain Motor Sports runs events under AASA sanctioning, including the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship.

Out of the running is a 24-hour race which Creventic, promoter of the global 24H Series and a number of other endurance event, was seeking to run, as reported by Speedcafe.com.

Ontic promotes the Australian Production Car Series, while 24 Hours of Lemons Australia had been seeking to run an event for grassroots participants.

Bathurst Mayor Graeme Hanger OAM said that the three shortlisted parties would now have to provide further information about their plans.

“Council will now seek additional information from each of the shortlisted parties to further assess the suitability of their submission and is unable to comment further until this process is complete,” he stated.

Council had previously forecast August as the time when it would make its final decision.

Mount Panorama currently hosts two Supercars-promoted events in the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Bathurst 12 Hour, and two promoted by Yeehah Events in the Bathurst 6 Hour and Challenge Bathurst.