Field for new Bathurst event narrows to two

Bathurst Regional Council has formally invited the Australian Racing Group and Supercars to tender for the running of the potential fifth event at Mount Panorama.

The announcement from Council means that Mountain Motor Sports has now dropped out of the race, leaving two candidates left after six lodged expressions of interest in April.

Those six were cut to three in May, although at that stage Council was still soliciting information from those parties which they had shortlisted.

According to Mayor Graeme Hanger OAM, the tenders from ARG and Supercars are set to be considered in September.

“Council is currently finalising the tender specification and we expect the two companies invited to take part in that process will receive those documents before the end of the month,” explained Cr Hanger.

“We anticipate Council will consider these tenders in September.”

While the latest announcement continues to refer to a “potential fifth event” at Mount Panorama, Council moving on to what it has deemed a “selective tender” process suggests that both the two remaining parties are somewhat advanced in their preliminary planning their nominated events.

ARG and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport are known to be trying to establish an endurance event for TCR machinery that could include the World Touring Car Cup in conjunction with TCR Australia.

Supercars has been more tight-lipped about its ambitions, which are understood to be a Goodwood Festival of Speed-style event.

The series was given an extension to submit details of its plans to BRC.

Championship CEO Sean Seamer has specifically ruled out a Supercars sprint event and another enduro, but has given little more other detail besides promising “something different.”

Supercars currently runs two of the four Mount Panorama events which require full track closures, namely the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.

Yeehah Events runs the other two, namely the Hi-Tec Oils Bathurst 6 Hour and Challenge Bathurst, while the fifth allowed under New South Wales legislation is presently unallocated.