Fans flock to welcome Supercars back to Adelaide

Supercars drivers have received a grand welcome back to South Australia ahead of this weekend's VALO Adelaide 500.

A huge crowd, including a number of interstate travellers, filled Adelaide’s famous Rundle Mall precinct on Wednesday afternoon for a pre-event signing session.

Hundreds of fans met with their favourite drivers in heart of Adelaide’s CBD, getting posters and cherished memorabilia signed by their racing heroes. 

It comes as the Repco Supercars Championship returns to the Adelaide Street Circuit for the first time since 2020. Tickets are on sale now.

The final round of the 2022 season will be headlined by dual 250km races.

After nearly a three-year absence, the return of the South Australian event feels surreal for hometown hero Nick Percat.

“It’s amazing to be back here in South Australia for the VALO Adelaide 500,” Percat told Supercars.com

“I kind of pinch myself that we are back here.

“To get the event cancelled, then to survive the COVID part of it, and to be back on the calendar, it's really amazing.

“I kind of pinch myself that it's actually happened.”

All 25 drivers were in attendance at the popular retail precinct, with fans filling the area.

It marked the first Supercars signing session at Rundle Mall in seven years, doubling as a celebration to farewell Holden in its final outing in Supercars.

Fans were encouraged to proudly show their allegiance to the sport’s iconic rivalry, lining up in their respective Holden and Ford colours.

Growing up attending the Adelaide event, proud South Australian Todd Hazelwood is relishing the opportunity to return to his home circuit.

“The circuit is the ultimate challenge from a driver’s point of view,” Hazelwood said.

“There are so many different elements to get right.

“Us drivers really enjoy that hustle and bustle throwing the cars up against the wall.

“There's no better challenge behind the wheel, but it’s also this event’s great status.

“It has so much history here, not only from Formula One, growing up as a kid, sitting on the fence watching it.

“It's more than just the race for me, it’s great to have it back.”

This year the entertainment line-up is packed like never before, with ten major acts across three huge nights of concerts.Tickets are on sale now.

Entertainment is included in your same day event ticket.

Cars will hit the track for Practice 1 at 3:55pm local time/4:25pm AEDT on Thursday.

The VALO Adelaide 500 will be held December 1-4 and broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network.

Tickets are now available through Supercars.com and Ticketek.