Supercars last raced overseas at the Circuit of the Americas in 2015. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Amid suggestions the Repco Supercars Championship might attempt to race abroad in the future, we ask this week’s Pirtek poll if you’d like to see that.
Newly appointed CEO Shane Howard recently caused a stir when he suggested that once Gen3 gets underway, supercars could race outside of Australia and New Zealand.
It’s not entirely unannounced. In the modern V8 era, supercars have competed in four countries outside Australasia – all Herman Tilke-designed Formula 1 Grand Prix venues.
His first international event was in China at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Supercars raced the shorter 4.6km variant on their only visit to the track in 2005, the spoils being shared by Holden Racing Team duo Todd Kelly and Mark Skaife with two and one wins apiece.
The Bahrain International Circuit hosted the Desert 400 from 2006 to 2008 and again in 2010.
The first three events were held on the shorter “Paddock Circuit” configuration before the Swan Song event used the Grand Prix layout.
Supercars held back-to-back events in the Middle East in 2010, with the last event in Bahrain being linked to another in Abu Dhabi.
From 2010 to 2012, Yas Marina Circuit hosted three Supercars events named Yas V8 400.
Supercars ventured into the United States in 2013 with the advent of Car of the Future and raced at the Circuit of the Americas.
The Austin 400 was slated to return in 2014, although due to a clash with X Games at the circuit, that would not happen.
Plans were made for 2015, although that contract was eventually terminated.
A race at the foot of the Petronas Towers was scheduled for 2016. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Since then, Supercars has not held an event outside of Australia and New Zealand, although an attempt was made to host an event in Malaysia in 2015.
The Kuala Lumpur Street Circuit was scheduled to host the KL City 400 in 2016 after initial demonstrations in 2015, although legal issues prevented this and the plans were eventually scrapped.
For the last ten years, racing in Indonesia has been talked about at the Sentul International Circuit.
Thailand was also previously discussed at a street circuit in Bangkok.
Former Supercars CEO James Warburton, who now runs Channel 7, was reportedly close to securing a race in Singapore.
There was talk that the layout would be a shortened version of the Marina Bay Street Circuit, which hosts the Singapore Grand Prix.
If COVID-19 permits, would you like to see supercars race abroad? Cast your vote below in this week’s Pirtek poll.
