The Bathurst Regional Council met on Wednesday evening to discuss the merits of a proposed fifth event for next year, believed to be pitched by SRO Motorsports Australia.
At a minimum, that would facilitate a round of GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS and Monochrome GT4 Australia.
Regardless of whether that gets the green light, the Bathurst Regional Council looks set to open a tender for the long-term promotion of the fifth Mount Panorama event beginning in 2028.
Bathurst Deputy Mayor Ben Fry said any proposal for 2027 would be an interim solution to inject capital into the region before a long-term promoter takes the reins of the fifth event.
“The slow cogs of bureaucracy dictate timelines sometimes, unfortunately,” Fry told Speedcafe.
“I’d like things to move quicker, but I am a realist and I would say we’d be looking at a 2028 onwards fifth event on a recurring basis.
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“In saying that, we are missing out on not having somebody fill that fifth event gap.
“If that somebody wants to propose a direct profit to the council and some cars going around the circuit at the same time, then I need to present something to my councillors as an option to make revenue while we go through that formal process of expressions of interest.
“I think from a governance perspective, the formality of an expression of interest is necessary. We need to be fair to the market to make sure that everybody can throw their hat in the ring.
“We fully expect that process to be launched at the latter end of this year.”
Fry said there would be a submission period and subsequent analysis before receiving briefs and pitches from promoters. A decision would likely be made by the council in the middle of 2027.
“Really that would be in the viewpoint to have a date solidified for 2028,” said Fry.
“These kinds of recurring events you could imagine need to be a five-plus-year deal to make sure that you can grow a new concept, so to speak.”
Fry said the proposal for a one-off event in 2027 had benefits.
“This approach from a particular promoter is just offering effectively an opportunity to commercialise the precinct for a fifth time in 2027,” Fry explained.
“There are lots of pros in that – minimal risk to the council and other events makes it quite an attractive proposal, but I can’t go into the commercial details of that proposal.”
The Bathurst International last held the fifth spot on the Mount Panorama motorsport calendar.
Supercars previously pitched for a Goodwood Festival of Speed-style event before the council went with the Bathurst International concept.
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