THE Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 will be held on October 4-7 in 2018.
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Supercars have released their 2018 calendar this week, with the new addition of a night race at Sydney Motorsport Park next August. It will be the first time series has run a night race in two decades.
The Sydney addition will be a single 300km race, run between 7pm and 10pm on August 4.
The Newcastle 500, which runs for the first time this year, has also been scheduled to close the race season once again in the last weekend of November 2018.
Supercars CEO James Warburton said they had made no secret they wanted to stage a night race next year.
“I am delighted to say it is now a reality that we will hold this race under lights in Sydney,” Mr Warburton said.
A new round at the Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia was also confirmed to have joined the list on Tuesday. It will be the final pre-enduro sprint meeting at the end of August.
The season will open on March 1 with the Adelaide 500 and culminate in Newcastle on November 23 after a tour through seven states and New Zealand.
The number of Championship events will increase by two across a 37-week season, with the inclusion of the Adelaide 500 in March and Coates Hire Newcastle 500 in November.
“We have added two new feature events in the Australian Grand Prix and Tailem Bend while improving our continuity and momentum through the season,” Warburton said.
“Competing for Championship points for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix has been a long-term goal for our sport and we are honoured to be able to do so on such an international stage.
“Tailem Bend will be a premier motor racing circuit in Australasia and one we are delighted to be making our debut at in August as part of an initial a four-year deal.”
The Dunlop Super2 Series returns as a points paying event at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 on a seven-event calendar including a return to the Perth SuperSprint.
Wildcard events in the Dunlop Super2 Series include the Winton SuperSprint, CrownBet Darwin Triple Crown, Coates Hire Ipswich SuperSprint and The Bend SuperSprint.
Additionally, Supercars has multiple signed agreements in place for races in Asia with a view to adding additional events in the region to the calendar from 2019.
“We are making strong progress with our Asian promoters and are committed to these being sustainable long term rather than short-term opportunities.”