Supercars is understood to have objected to plans for TCR Australia to appear on the support bill at next year’s Superloop Adelaide 500.
Speedcafe.com understands the two-litre touring car class was expected to reveal its involvement at the 2020 Supercars season opener yesterday but the announcement has been put on hold.
It is believed that Supercars has raised concerns over a rival touring car series featuring on the bill at the Adelaide 500.
While the Adelaide 500 is not a Supercars-promoted event, Speedcafe.com has learned that Supercars does have a say in vetoing support categories that appear at the meeting through its current contract with event organisers, the South Australian Tourism Commission.
The event is in the process of finalising its support line-up for next year’s race from February 20-23, and will announce its support bill plans in the coming weeks, according to organisers.
TCR Australia has been keen to occupy itself on the bill at selected Supercars events since its launch this year and has held discussions with the category regarding its future involvement at race meetings.
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Senior management at TCR Australia remain hopeful the category will race at the Adelaide 500 despite Supercars objections.
Supercars declined to comment when approached by Speedcafe.com.
Although, championship boss Sean Seamer told Speedcafe.com last month that he had no concerns over the growth of TCR Australia or its position as a potential rival.
“I don’t see any competition from them (TCR Australia),” Seamer told Speedcafe.com in Darwin.
“They approached us at the end of last year looking to get on (the bill at some events) this year.
“The calendar was already full obviously, and we laid down with our support categories.
“Those guys will keep talking as we start laying down the calendar (for next year).
“But our priority is getting the calendar right, get our formats right, figure out where and when we’re going racing and then talk to our support category partners after that.”
Matt Braid, director of TCR Australia promoters, the Australian Racing Group, also declined to talk about TCR’s Adelaide 500 plans, but reiterated that the series is not a competitor to Supercars.
He also confirmed the series is in talks to appear at other events outside of its current home on the Shannons Nationals program and will continue to discus future collaborations with Supercars.
“We have been in dialogue with Supercars all the way through,” Braid told Speedcafe.com.
“We welcome the opportunity to keep talking to them and work out how we can do things together.
“We are not competitive against them. There may be some crossover possibly and an opportunity for both of us.
“We are in conversations with other events (outside of Shannons Nationals). Having high profile events is great for TCR full stop.”
A collaboration between the two series could prove beneficial with Supercars squads Kelly Racing and Garry Rogers Motorsport already operating in both, fielding four cars each in TCR Australia’s debut year.
Supercars is expected to reveal its full 2020 calendar by the end of the month while TCR Australia is currently working on locking down its plans for next year.
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