The famous Adelaide 500 will wrap up the Repco Supercars Championship’s next five seasons after a landmark deal between Supercars and the South Australian Malinauskas Labor Government.
 
With the highly popular event to make its grand return to the calendar in December after it was cancelled indefinitely in 2020 as a result of COVID-19, the new deal provides certainty for the Government, Supercars and local businesses who will benefit from its return.
 
The Supercars round has long been a staple of the state’s sporting calendar and in 2019, generated around $45 million in economic revenue with more than 250,000 people attending – 15,000 of which were interstaters.
 
In addition to hosting the season finale until 2026, Adelaide will also host the end of season gala awards night on the Monday following the Adelaide 500.
 
The deal was announced on Thursday morning with Premier Peter Malinauskas, SA Motorsport Board chief executive Mark Warren, Supercars CEO Shane Howard, Supercars Chairman Barclay Nettlefold and Supercars Director Mark Skaife all in attendance.
 
Supercars Australia CEO Shane Howard was thrilled the deal could be completed.
 
“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,” Howard said.
 
“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.”
 
Echoing Howard’s sentiments, Malinauskas was just as pleased.
 
“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,” Malinauskas added.
 
“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.”
 
The Adelaide 500 will officially return this year with the round to host the Supercars season finale on 1-4 December.