Beginning in 2027, the Darwin Triple Crown will host a race under lights on Friday in a major change for the sole Supercars event held in the Top End.
The night race on Friday will be followed by a twilight event on Saturday and a normal daytime schedule on Sunday.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality and Minister for Major Events, Marie-Clare Boothby confirmed the changes ahead of the latest Supercars round at Hidden Valley Raceway.
Night race plans are not new to Darwin having been planned prior to the 2016 event, but a change of government ensured this failed to take place.
Drag racing has previously been a fixture during the evening of Supercars events, with infrastructure plans not yet released.
“The Territory is absolutely in pole position – there’s nowhere better for motorsports and major events, and next year we’re taking it up another level,” Boothby said.
“Twilight races and night races will unlock a raft of opportunities for Territorians and visitors to enjoy all we have to offer: sunset markets and hospitality venues, parks and one-of-a-kind events.
“There’s nowhere like the Territory, and once again, the Darwin Supercars absolutely prove that to be true.”
Supercars already race under lights at Sydney, where the New South Wales Government invested in permanent lighting infrastructure a little more than five-years ago.
Supercars executive chairman and interim CEO Barclay Nettlefold is excited by the move.
“Adding night racing to the Darwin Triple Crown is a major evolution for an event that is already a favourite among our fans, teams, and drivers,” Nettlefold said.
“There is nothing quite like Supercars under lights — the noise, the energy and the atmosphere create an incredible spectacle — and bringing that energy to the Territory in 2027 will make the Darwin Triple Crown one of the standout events of the season.
“As we look ahead to a huge 2026 event this weekend, we know fans will already be excited about what’s to come in 2027 and the first-ever Supercars night race in the NT.”