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Newcastle 500 to launch Supercars’ 2022 season

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Newcastle has been chosen to host the opening race of the 2022 Supercars season on the city’s iconic street circuit. 

The news comes after the announcement of Supercars’ 2021 calendar, which did not include the picturesque Newcastle race. 

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes praised the event as having large economic benefits for the local economy, and said she looked forward to welcoming Supercars and fans back to Newcastle. 

“The Newcastle 500 has been shown through independent research to benefit Newcastle’s economy by more than $30 million over the three-day event, contributing to up to 124 full-time jobs,” she said.

“As part of the Supercars Australia Championship series, the Newcastle 500 also brings widespread exposure for our city.

“Our wider community also recognises the benefits of hosting such a landmark event, with 81% of respondents previously indicating in a Hunter Research Foundation Centre survey that they believe Newcastle and the region benefit from hosting the Supercars Newcastle 500.”

Newcastle first hosted Supercars’ season finale in 2017, a thrilling race in which Jamie Whincup picked up his seventh championship title after rival Scott McLaughlin was penalised on the last lap. 

Newcastle 500 - Supercars
Newcastle’s stunning beaches have featured prominently during the past three Supercars events in the city. Photo: Getty Images

Organisers expect the event will take place in early March, and is set to feature the debut of the new Gen3 Supercars, the General Motors Camaro ZL1, and the Ford Mustang.

Cr Nelmes said, in the three years the city had hosted Supercars, it became “one of the most popular spots”.

She believed the race’s calendar switch could have positive impacts for Newcastle.

“No city anywhere in Australia offers what Newcastle does in terms of providing stunning aerial pictures of some of Australia’s most beautiful beaches,” she said.

“In recent years, the shots of Supercars racing in the foreground while our working harbour operates in the background are images that are embedded into the minds of tens of millions of motor racing fans around the world.

“Newcastle and the Hunter enjoy a huge racing supporter base and I’m confident they will love the promotion to the season opener and will continue to pour into the city for the three days in massive numbers”. 

The City of Newcastle hopes that a new long term agreement to host Supercars in the city will be finalised by mid-2022. 

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