The Newcastle 500 has been scheduled to close the race season in the last weekend of November, 2018. The local race will follow the return of a night race at Sydney Motorsport Park in August, after the use of lights were trialled in a practice run on the Sydney circuit earlier this year.
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The evening addition will be a single 300km race, run between 7pm and 10pm on August 4. It will be the first time the series has run a night race in two decades.
“We’ve made no secret we wanted to stage a night race next year and I am delighted to say it is now a reality that we will hold this race under lights in Sydney,” Supercars CEO James Warburton said.
A new round at the Bend Motorsport Park in South Australia was also confirmed to have joined the list on Tuesday. It will be the final pre-enduro sprint meeting at the end of August.
The season will open on March 1 with the Adelaide 500 and culminate in Newcastle on November 23 after a tour through seven states, and New Zealand.
The number of Championship events will increase by two across a 37-week season, with the inclusion of the Adelaide 500 in March and Coates Hire Newcastle 500 in November.
Meanwhile, the Bathurst race will return to a points-paying Super2 round, run from October 4 to October 7.
“We have added two new feature events in the Australian Grand Prix and Tailem Bend while improving our continuity and momentum through the season,” Warburton said.
“Competing for Championship points for the first time at the Australian Grand Prix has been a long-term goal for our sport and we are honoured to be able to do so on such an international stage.
“Tailem Bend will be a premier motor racing circuit in Australasia and one we are delighted to be making our debut at in August as part of an initial a four-year deal.”
