By Mark Fogarty
Release date: July 14, 2021
Supercars face a nervous wait as Sydney’s COVID crisis continues, with an extended lockdown threatening next month’s planned SuperNight lap at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Though still a little over five weeks away, the event depends on the greater Sydney outbreak containment in time for the Queensland and Victoria border bans to be lifted.
While Supercars management is still planning for the Sydney SuperNight August 20-22, the recent extension of Harbor City’s lockdown is undermining that confidence.
A replacement second event at The Bend in South Australia – where the series started in early May – is seen as an option.
The NSW government has extended restrictions in Sydney and the surrounding area to at least July 30, with experts predicting they will have to stay in place for at least another month to contain the rampant spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
That would extend the lockdown until August 13th – just a week before the Sydney SuperNight.
While dangerously close, lifting the restrictions by then would allow the event to take place, albeit almost certainly with limited public participation.
The bigger risk is that, even if restrictions are lifted by then, Queensland and Victoria are unlikely to lift the border bans in time for Supercars teams to return safely.
Sydney’s red zone status means team staff from Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast would have to be quarantined for 14 days upon their return.
Currently, returning Queensland residents must be isolated for two weeks at the expense of the returnee in a government-approved quarantine hotel.
Returning Victorian residents only require home self-isolation with testing.
Only Albury-based BJR and Team Sydney – if it stayed “at home” instead of returning to its backup on the Gold Coast – would be exempt, although many of their employees live in Melbourne or Queensland.
Since the next round is not planned until September 11th to 12th Perth SuperNight, two weeks of quarantine could be acceptable and manageable – just.
However, given the tough line taken by the Western Australian government on border control, this event is already in doubt.
Supercars management is not yet panicking about Sydney, but it is believed contingency plans are in place.
Postponing SMP for a week or even two weeks may be an option, but a return to Bend Motorsport Park in SA is more likely.
Due to doubts about the planned return to New Zealand, SMP could also be postponed until November.
At this point in time, Supercars is doubtful – but does not rule out – a double top at SMP, should the all-clear for the next month.
Winton, postponed twice, is also on standby, but this one is being reserved for better weather late in the season and will most likely be the one for Aug. 6-7. November replace planned NZ round.
The Auckland SuperSprint is subject to the Trans-Tasman travel bubble, which New Zealand authorities closed to individual Australian states during the recent outbreaks.
The embargo period for supercars to have a guarantee that the Pukekohe event can take place is mid-September due to the logistics of organizing sea freight there and back for cars and equipment.
The cancellation of the NZ trip for the second time in a row seems more likely due to the virulence of the delta variant of COVID-19, which spreads faster and more widely when people flee.
The recent outbreaks that locked Melbourne and Brisbane / Gold Coast (now repealed), as well as Sydney and the surrounding area, have been attributed to travelers returning from overseas.
For more current Supercars news, see the latest issue of Auto Action. Also follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for the latest updates between editions.
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