South Australian Circuit Racing will enter a new era in 2024 with The Bend and the Sporting Car Club of SA (SCCSA) now joining forces to run the SA Motor Racing Championships together.
 
As a result of the new partnership, the SA Motor Racing Championships season will now increase from four events to eight, and will hold rounds at the iconic Mallala Motorsport Park and Shell V-Power Motorsport Park’s International & GT circuits.
 
In addition to the increase of rounds, the calibre of events has also grown substantially with a variety of national and international competitions confirmed to run in conjunction with the regular state championship categories at a number of these events.
 
From the hugely popular Lamborghini Super Trofeo Asia, the incoming Australian Formula 4 Championship and the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series to visiting interstate series such as the NSW Production Sports and Victoria’s E30 Racing, there are a variety of categories to appeal to all forms of motorsport competitors and fans.
 
The new era’s main goals will be to raise the profile of the championships and improve participation with competitive event entry fees, a simplified entry process and increased track time for competitors.
 
Although the new partnership will see the SCCSA’s decades-long reign of solely promoting the state championship come to end, SCCSA President Chris Firth welcomed the new era for the effect it will have on the sport within the state.
 
“The Sporting Car Club has been a fantastic custodian of motorsport in SA,” Firth said.
 
“We started in motorsport in the 1930s/1940s running the Australian GP at Lobethal, we were heavily involved in the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix when it was in Adelaide and we have continued to expand on that by operating state-level motorsport events through Motorsport Australia here in SA for over 40 years.
 
“Being involved with national categories is important for exposure for our local categories. That’s one thing that has been difficult in the past is to gain national exposure and having the national categories here at racing events mixed with club-level racing, is perfect for the competitors, not only for their own personal improvement but for the category’s improvement as well.
 
“We are looking forward to this partnership which can only expand what the club can do, what the competitors can achieve and it furthers a great relationship that we’ve developed with The Bend over the years running events both here and at Mallala.”

Shell V-Power Motorsport Park CEO Alistair MacDonald believed the new partnership would emphasise the partnership’s fundamental values in growing the championships.  
 
“The history of the Sporting Car Club of SA’s involvement in motorsport is incredible. To be able to expand our existing relationship with them and partner to put on this championship is a fantastic outcome for the wider South Australian motorsport Community,” MacDonald explained.
 
“The involvement of the visiting state, national and international categories is not only great for motorsport in SA but it’s incredibly exciting for the Murray River Lakes & Coorong region with the expected increase in visitation.”
 
The Circuit’s Operations Manager Wayne Williams echoed MacDonald’s sentiments of the SCCSA involvement in the sport.
 
“We have worked tirelessly alongside the Sporting Car Club to create a model that will enhance the competitor experience and place South Australia as a national leader when it comes to state-level race meetings,” Williams added.
 
“The combined effort to consult with all the racing clubs and categories involved has resulted in a calendar that will support the expansion of the championship.”
 
The first event of the 2024 SA Motor Racing Championship season will be held at Shell V Power Motorsport Park’s International Circuit on 1-3 March.