The Adelaide Government and the Repco Supercars Championship have confirmed a new five year deal that will see the popular Supercars return to the famous street circuit until at least 2026.
The agreement has been signed by Premier Peter Malinauskas, SA Motorsport Board chief executive Mark Warren and Supercars chief executive officer Shane Howard in Adelaide today.
The agreement locks in the return of the Adelaide 500 from December 1-4 this year and the subsequent four events – all of which will serve as the grand finale to the Repco Supercars Championship.
Supercars have also committed to hosting its end of season gala awards night on the Monday following the Adelaide 500 for the next five years.
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas says that this is a momentous moment for Adelaide and the famous race event.
“This is an historic moment for motorsport in South Australia – not only are we locking in the event’s return this year, but we are also securing the race for at least the next five years,” said Malinauskas.
“I have every confidence hosting the final race in the Supercars Championship will become an integral part of the sport’s calendar in the same way the season opener in Adelaide used to be.
“Coupled with hosting the end of season gala awards night, this promises to be a spectacular end of the year leading into the Christmas period.”
Supercars Australia CEO Shane Howard was thrilled to reveal the news.
“The Adelaide 500 is a spectacular event that showcases South Australia to a huge national and international audience and will be a fitting finale to the Repco Supercars Championship for the next five years,” said Howard.
“I want to thank Premier Malinauskas, the South Australian Government, Mark Warren and the SA Motorsport Board for their unwavering support and reviving this event to recreate what will be five incredible years of racing in Adelaide.”
The legend of the street circuit began in 1985 as the final round of the Formula 1 World Championship. F1 remained at the track until 1995 before the race was moved to Albert Park, where it has stayed ever since.
In 1999, Supercars ran its first stand-alone Adelaide 500 event and was regarded as one of the premier events on the Supercars Championship calendar until 2020 before the former government axed the race.
As part of the Malinauskas Labor Government’s pledge to bring the race back, a new era will begin this year, forming the final round of the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship.