The Bend to host Supercars enduro in 2025
Supercars
10 Nov 2023
The Bend will host enduro round in 2025
South Aussie won't feature in 2024, but will host long race for first time
The Bend has hosted Supercars sprint rounds since 2018 debut
The Bend Motorsport Park will host its first Supercars endurance round in 2025.
The Tailem Bend venue won’t feature in the 2024 Repco Supercars Championship, as revealed in the calendar released on Friday.
However, it will return with a bang in 2025, with the South Australian circuit to stage an enduro for the very first time.
The Bend Motorsport Park hosted its first Supercars round in 2018, and has featured on Supercars calendars every year since.
The circuit was set to the opening round of the PIRTEK Enduro Cup in 2020, with the Bend round to switch to a 500km format. However, plans were changed due to COVID-19-forced changes to the schedule, with The Bend eventually hosting two sprint rounds, the second on a different layout.
The Penrite Oil Sandown 500 will return in 2024, with the iconic Melbourne venue to stage a 500km race before the jewel in the crown event, the Repco Bathurst 1000.
The Bend Supercars events are supported by the Government of South Australia through the South Australian Tourism Commission.
"Following discussions with management at The Bend, both parties have agreed that the best outcome is to focus on 2025, where the South Australian venue will host an endurance event for the first time,” Supercars CEO Shane Howard said.
"The circuit has produced incredible moments on track since 2018 and is well-suited for Supercars endurance racing. We’re all excited to see what happens on track when endurance racing debuts at The Bend in 2025."
Hosting an endurance round has long been a burning ambition for its owners, with circuit Managing Director Sam Shahin “thrilled” to secure an enduro in South Australia.
“Hosting a Supercars endurance round has long been considered the holy grail for our venue and we are thrilled we have finally been able to secure this prestigious event for 2025,” Shahin said.
“I am naturally disappointed that a Supercars event will not be held at the best motorsport facility in Australia in 2024, however we are thrilled to have secured the coveted endurance round for The Bend in 2025.”
The Bend’s 2024 season will include the likes of National Drag Racing Championship, Australian Superbikes, Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia and Nitro Funny Cars.
The venue recently opened its new drag way, which attracted 20,000 to its first event.
“We are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to share further plans for major events at The Bend in 2024,” Shell V-Power Motorsport Park CEO Alistair MacDonald said.
"We have some exciting developments to announce over the coming weeks.”
