Supercars has set a new date for the Winton pre-season test, as Queensland announced it will close to Greater Melbourne from tomorrow morning.
The test is now slated to take place next Friday (February 19), having been originally set to take place this coming Tuesday until the new Victorian lockdown was announced.
“Due to the recently announced five day, state-wide lockdown in Victoria, Supercars has rescheduled the planned test day in Winton to Friday, 19 February 2021,” read a statement from Supercars.
“Further information will be provided once arrangements have been finalised.”
While the Victorian lockdown is currently slated to end on Wednesday night (23:59 local time/AEDT), Queensland will now shut its border to Greater Melbourne from tomorrow morning at 01:00 (02:00 AEDT), for two weeks.
The move potentially affects the following Queensland-based drivers who compete for Victorian teams: Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United), Tim Slade (Blanchard Racing Team), James Courtney (Tickford Racing), and Will Brown (Erebus Motorsport).
However, depending on how the Queensland Government allows travel from Melbourne Airport, the aforementioned drivers may be able to return to their places of residence without restriction, similar to arrangements in place before last year’s Winton event (which was ultimately moved to Sydney anyway).
Alternatively, they could travel by road from NSW.
Jack Smith, whose Brad Jones Racing team is based in the New South Wales border town of Albury but tests at Winton, is understood to have moved from the Gold Coast to Victoria recently.
The other squads which are set to test at Winton are Kelly Grove Racing and Team 18.
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