TBK-Light.com

New stream link for this BTW:
http://motorsport.cf/

Supercars is eyeing an August date for a championship round at the new Bend Motorsport Park facility in South Australia next year.

The state-of-the-art $100 million complex, currently under construction near Tailem Bend, has long been tipped to join the 2018 Supercars calendar, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the category in 2015.

Construction of Australia’s newest permanent motor racing circuit is on schedule to be completed ahead of an expected official opening in January next year.

Supercars has been in discussions with circuit owner Sam Shahin, who is leading the build of an FIA grade 2, 7.77km circuit, featuring four different track layouts and a 50 room hotel onsite.

Championship CEO James Warburton is hoping The Bend Motorsport Park will receive a late August berth on next year’s schedule, subject to the successful completion of the venue.

Work on the 2018 calendar is well underway with confirmation next year’s visit to the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix has been upgraded to a full championship round.

“It is all working its way through. We obviously expect to be at The Bend Motorsport Park in 2018,” Warburton told Speedcafe.com.

“It is now up to South Australian Tourism and the South Australian Government to give the relevant approvals to have the two races (including Adelaide 500) in South Australia.

“The circuit has to be built and we know that is happening but you never want to count your chickens before they have hatched.

“As we get closer to Sandown (September 15-17) we will make sure we are completely confident that the circuit will be ready and their won’t be any delays terms of being available for 2018.

“There is no possibility to do it in the front half of the year due to the fact from a South Australia Tourism point of view that it is close to the Clipsal race and other commitments to other race events.

“Most likely it will be around and before Sandown in late August.”