Supercars Gen3 program stalled… again

Supercars confirmed on Wednesday the introduction of the Gen3 program had been delayed again due to disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Supercars still intends to unveil the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro prototypes to fans on December 3 at the Bathurst 1000 this year.

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The Gen3 cars were initially meant to be on track for the start of the 2022 championship before Covid delays forced their debut to be pushed back to August.

But ongoing supply issues and limited testing due to Covid has forced another hold up.

“Factors outside the control of Supercars, including the ongoing challenges with international supply chains and domestic disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are among the major contributing factors,” Supercars said in a statement.

“Lockdowns in various states which have forced Supercars to condense its racing program over the final three months of 2021, have also limited the Gen3 testing program as originally planned.

“Supercars, General Motors and Ford remain committed to rolling out Gen3 and the introduction of the Camaro and the Mustang.”

Supercars has not raced this year since back-to-back races in Townsville in mid-July due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions.

After a three-month break, the series will resume at Sydney Motorsport Park on October 29 – the first of four consecutive races at the venue before the season finale at Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000.

Supercars return date revealed as anti-vaxxers slam saviour

The operator of Sydney Motorsport Park has revealed he has received “hate mail” from anti-vaxxers over the venue’s enforcement of a double-jab policy ahead of Supercars’ return at the circuit later this month.

In what looms as a test case for the return of professional sport in New South Wales, Sydney Motorsport Park (SMP) will host four consecutive rounds before the series heads to Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000 finale in early December.

Sydney Motorsport Park will enforce a double-vaccination policy for everyone entering the venue, in line with the health advice of the New South Wales government.

Glenn Matthews, chief executive of the Australian Racing Drivers’ Club which runs Sydney Motorsport Park, said he had received some “nasty” feedback from anti-vaxxers over the double-jab stance based on the public health advice.

But Supercars chief executive Sean Seamer said there had been no push back from anyone in the V8 series over the vaccination requirement. He said everyone was prepared to do what was necessary to “get back to the racetrack” after a lengthy lay-off.

Matthews said the venue was complying with the government health advice.

“I have had some terrible hate mail from anti-vaxxers and stuff and I just said to them, ‘What we are doing is we are simply complying with the public health order’,” Matthews said.

“That’s what we have got to do as a community and that’s what is best.

“Some of it was very nasty. But we are not alone in that. Lots of venues and places have been getting trolled.

“Some people choose to do that, that’s their prerogative. At the end of the day, we are going to put on four great events for people to watch.

“What we have in place is to simply abide by whatever the public health policy is. And so the public health policy at 70 per cent (vaccination), as the government have announced – and even at 80 per cent – is that only people that are double vaccinated, whether they are staff or spectators or employees, can enter the premises.

“So our policies simply comply with what the law is of the day.”

Supercars has not raced since back-to-back races in Townsville in mid-July due to Covid lockdowns and restrictions.

The series will resume at SMP with the Sydney SuperNight on October 29-31.

Seamer said he was not aware of any issues with anyone involved in Supercars over the jab policy and was confident everyone would meet the health requirements.

“I think everybody is going to do what we have got to do to get racing again, which is what we did last year as well,” Seamer said.

“We are all looking forward to getting to Sydney Motorsport Park …. everyone is just keen to get going racing again.

“Everyone just wants to get back to the racetrack.”

“Glenn has been fantastic in accommodating us and we should all thank – the fans and the Supercars family – Glenn and his team for what they have done to accommodate us.”

Sydney emerged as the unlikely saviour for the remainder of the Supercars championship in a relaunch for professional sport in the city as the state begins to open up.

Seamer acknowledged the series would be a “test case” for sport’s return in the city.

CROWDS

Initally, a cap of 5000 fans will be allowed at SMP for the first of four races in late October.

But once the state reaches 80 per cent double dose vaccinations, Supercars and the venue will apply to have this cap increased.

“We are working with the venue and New South Wales health for increasing those limits where appropriate based on the road map that NSW has put out,” Seamer said.

Matthews said the size of the venue meant there would be no issue operating in Covid safe manner.

“When you think about some of the other restrictions that will still be in place, by then at 80 per cent, for outdoors at a club or a pub you will be allowed a one per two square metre rule,” Matthews said.

“Now we are on 92 hectares so it could have 50,000 people there and comply with every Covid safe measure we need to.

“So we will be seeking an exemption to ask for more.”

COVID PROTOCOLS

Seamer said the series was still working through its entry plan for the venue and whether this would include temperature checks and/or Covid tests.

The series also remained in discussions with NSW health authorities over the protocols should a team member test positive.

“The protocols will be based on the definition of close contacts and how we handle those close contacts will be as per the health advice and they are currently updating and releasing protocols around that at the moment,” Seamer said.

“The definition of a close contact is something that is still being reviewed and defined but it’s not looking like something that would affect a whole team.”

FREEDOMS

The teams and Supercars staff will not be operating within a “bubble” for the Sydney events but will be subjected to whatever the local government restrictions are at the time.

Seamer said a commonsense approach would be taken to keep everyone safe.

“For us it is going to be about some common sense protocols that restrict the ability for any transmission of the virus and it’s day to day things,” Seamer said.

“We have got to be cognisant that many of our people have spent a lot of time in lockdown and we want them to be able to have freedom.

“But at the same time it will be some common sense protocols that limit the risk of infections and transmission.”

Originally published as Supercars confirm the introduction of the Gen3 program has been delayed again due to Covid