Bathurst International organisers seeking revised date

Organisers of the Bathurst International are working to secure a date that does not conflict with next year’s Supercars finale.

Announced this morning, the inaugural Bathurst International was planned for December 4-6, 2020, pending confirmation of the international racing calendar.

That would have put the event on the same weekend as the 2020 Supercars season finale, with organisers backtracking from the statement when approached for clarification. A late November early December date is expected.

“It’s an international event, our focus is on giving as many international drivers out as possible, so we have more focus on the global calendar,” ARG director Matt Braid told Speedcafe.com.

“But from a local event perspective, we don’t want to clash with another event on the same weekend for motorsport fans and officials.

“So yes, we’d try and avoid that but also we are cognisant of seeing where we’re placed from an international calendar perspective. That’s the priority.”

A joint venture between Australian Racing Group, Motorsport Australia (CAMS), and the Bathurst Regional Council, the Bathurst International is set to be a 500km TCR race with ambitions to attract international teams and drivers.

It will be supported by a raft of other categories including Touring Car Masters, S5000 (pending FIA approval), TA2 Muscle Cars, and LMP3.

Work is also underway to secure a television deal for the event, though Braid concedes that will follow confirmation of a new date.

“Obviously the priority is seeing where we’re placed calendar wise because obviously it’s very important, as it is the Bathurst International, to really focus on that, so we are really hoping to get a date,” Braid said.

“We’ve looked at a proposed couple of dates here and there but obviously there are some conflicts or some other considerations we need to factor in but once we do that shortly, TV deal is, with any luck will be announced in due course.”

Greater clarity on the 2020 international calendar is expected following the next meeting of the World Motorsport Council on December 4.