News
Sandown added to 2021 S5000 Calendar
The location of S5000s historic first event will be the newest addition to the 2021 VHT S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship calendar.
Sandown Raceway in Melbourne will host the third round of the 2021 Gold Star on March 20-21, with Australia’s top open-wheel category joining the Repco Supercars Championship program for the first time.
The addition of Sandown to the calendar completes the scheduled four-round Gold Star schedule, which started at Symmons Plains Raceway in January.
Sandown will directly follow the rescheduled Shannons Motorsport Australia Championship round at Phillip Island, on March 12-14, before the championship concludes at Sydney Motorsport Park on May 1-2.
Sandown hosted the inaugural S5000 event in September 2019, a non-championship affair claimed by Garry Rogers Motorsport driver James Golding.
The event also saw S5000 claim the longstanding Sandown outright lap record, former Aussie international John Martin recording the fastest ever race lap of the venue (1m04.5533) in the second of three races.
As well as being a significant location in the brief history of S5000, Sandown is an historic venue in the long history of the Australian Drivers’ Championship and Motorsport Australia Gold Star.
The suburban Melbourne venue has hosted 38 ADC events, more than any other circuit in the 65-year history of Australia’s premier open wheel award.
Thomas Randle currently leads the 2021 VHT S5000 Australian Drivers’ Championship with 115 points, former Gold Star champion Tim Macrow second (104 points) and International Aussie star Joey Mawson third on 93 points.
REVISED VHT S5000 AUSTRALIAN DRIVERS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
Round 2: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, VIC (March 13-14)
Round 3: Sandown Motor Raceway, VIC (March 20-21)
Round 4: Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW (May 1-2)
QUOTES:
Matt Braid, Australian Racing Group CEO
“Sandown is the spiritual home of the S5000 class and the Formula 5000s of yesteryear, so it’s a great result for the competitors to secure a round at that venue,” said Braid.
“There is no doubt that the fans are the big winners of this announcement. S5000 is the perfect class to compliment the Supercars Championship and, if our opening event there in 2019 was anything to go by, then we’re all going to be treated to some great racing.
“It also means that S5000 will be competing back-to-back race weekends at Phillip Island and Sandown, so the momentum for this great class is really starting to build.”
Chris Lambden, S5000 Category Development Manager
“Following the disappointment of losing our initial Phillip Island date, this is a great outcome for S5000 and a double-whammy for the category.
“Phillip Island followed by Sandown will ensure an incredible fortnight of racing on two of the most historic circuits in Australia – and both places where S5000 will shine.
“It should be a great show at both events; it’s a big thanks to the Australian Racing Group team and Supercars for putting it together.”
“Despite the postponements or cancellations of other events, everyone has worked extremely hard to ensure we can complete the full four-round calendar and award Australia’s Champion Driver in May this year.”