Shorter calendar, later start for 2020 SuperUtes

The 2019 calendar was an eight-round affair, but this year is likely to be only five or six, as teams need time to transition to the new petrol V8 control engine that’s being introduced to the category for 2020.

As such, the SuperUtes won’t be part of the Supercars’ 2020 season opener - the Superloop Adelaide 500 - in February, as they were last year. In fact, a first round for the utes isn’t expected until the Winton Supercar round on 5–7 June.

With support categories for the Darwin Triple Crown Supercars round (17-19 July) already announced, the SuperUtes won’t be racing there this year, either, which means the bulk of the 2020 calendar will be after the Supercars mid-year break in July-August.

That leaves the Sydney SuperNight (28-30 August), The Bend 500 (18-20 September), Bathurst 1000 (8-11 October), Gold Coast 600 (30 October – 1 November), Sandown Super400 (20-22 November and Newcastle 500 (4-6 December) as possible SuperUtes calendar dates. Of those, Bathurst, the Gold Coast and Newcastle seem the most likely inclusions, as they were part of the 2019 calendar and draw big spectator/viewing numbers for team and series sponsors.

The full calendar for the 2020 ECB SuperUtes Championship is expected to be announced soon. Go to: https://www.supercars.com/ for series updates and more news on the championship.