Supercheap Auto becomes naming rights partner of Bathurst International
UPDATE 15 September 2021: The inaugural Supercheap Auto Bathurst International will take place in 2022
Supercheap Auto, Australia’s leading retailer of automotive parts and accessories, has today been confirmed as inaugural, multi-year naming rights partner of the Bathurst International event.
This new partnership further extends Supercheap Auto’s relationship across the ARG portfolio which includes long-term naming rights of the TCR Australia Series.
Jointly promoted by Australian Racing Group (ARG) and Bathurst Regional Council, the Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is the newest annual event to be held on the world-famous Mount Panorama Motor Racing Circuit.
The confirmation continues a rich history of the Australian-owned company sponsoring a major event at Mount Panorama, following its 16 years as the naming rights partner of the Bathurst 1000 (2005-2020).
The event will be broadcast live on the free to air network of Channel Seven as well as being broadcast both live and on demand via 7 Plus.
The partnership announcement also coincides with tickets going on sale for the inaugural event. Camping will be available at both the bottom and top of Mount Panorama with the McPhillamy and Paddock campgrounds open. Children under 12 can attend the event for free.
The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International will be a celebration of racing categories with an international and world-class flavour, including open wheel racecars, touring cars and GT sports cars. The large international fanbases of these categories will also be watching the event live which will truly showcase the Mount Panorama track and the Bathurst region to the world.
The most anticipated feature of the event will be the first ever appearance of the S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship at Mount Panorama. The presence of S5000 will mark a momentous and long-awaited return of V8-powered formula cars to the Mountain, for the first time since Formula 5000 cars raced on the legendary circuit in 1970.
Also headlining the event will be TCR Australia, bringing its global brand of touring car racing to Bathurst. Featuring high-quality Australian drivers representing brands from Germany, France, Italy, Japan and South Korea, the category adopted in more than 30 regions will race in a blue-riband Bathurst event.
The format for the TCR Australia races will be confirmed in due course.
The Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS brings GT3-specification endurance racing back to Mount Panorama. A three-hour, two-driver race will decide the 2021 Australian Endurance Championships.
American muscle will be firing on all eight cylinders with the fast-growing Trans Am category competing in a special, stand-alone event to close its racing year. Built by Howe Racing Enterprises in Michigan, USA, Trans Am’s identically powered V8 Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge machines have turned on some of the most exciting racing in Australian motorsport this year.
Rekindling the legendary beasts which have defined Mount Panorama’s racing history, the final round of the Gulf Western Oil Touring Car Masters will pit the best Australian muscle cars of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s against American classics such as the Ford Boss Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro.
Adding to the international flavour will be the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge for the Stuttgart-built 911 GT3 Cup cars, while the Australian Production Car Series caps off the truly diverse array of cars and categories.
Quotes
Benjamin Ward
Managing Director, Supercheap Auto
“Supercheap Auto are excited to return to the mountain as a naming rights sponsor,” said Ward.
“The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International will be an exciting event for fans and our team with world-class racing categories and drivers.
“Supercheap Auto have a long history with Bathurst and we look forward to working with the Australian Racing Group on showcasing this event globally.”
Matt Braid
CEO, Australian Racing Group
"The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is set to be the premier event for ARG’s racing categories which are internationally aligned such as TCR, GT World Challenge and Trans Am, or feature attributes of top-level world motorsport as S5000 does,” said Braid.
"An event of this calibre needs a passionate, committed partner that understands the sport, its fans and the privilege that we have to be putting on a show at Mount Panorama.
"Supercheap Auto is undoubtedly that partner, and we are extremely proud to be extending our association with the SCA team to naming rights of the Bathurst International.”
Cr. Bobby Bourke
Mayor of Bathurst
“The Supercheap Auto Bathurst International is set to be the jewel in the Australian motorsport calendar and around the world,” said Cr Bourke.
“Mount Panorama has a reputation as one of the best racing circuits in the world. The worldwide exposure of the Bathurst International will elevate Mount Panorama's prestige and will showcase the racing circuit and Bathurst to a global audience.”