Premium GT racing from Porsche Carrera Cup and GT World Challenge confirmed
Classic Touring Cars from the sport’s history to race
V8-powered Ute category to make Aussie debut at The Bend
A packed on-track program of support races will keep fans entertained throughout the day at the 2021 OTR SuperSprint The Bend this May 7-9.
Exotic Supercars, Historic Touring Cars and even V8-powered Utes will complete the on-track undercard as the Repco Supercars Championship makes its only visit to South Australia this year.
It is set to ensure a packed and diverse on-track program for fans attending the event this May.
The support race program is headlined by Australia’s two top GT-based categories for some of the most exotic Supercars around.
The Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia will tackle their second round of the year at The Bend.
Australia’s top one-make championship will this year feature the inclusion of Supercars legend Craig Lowndes on the grid, alongside a host of young stars and more experienced drivers keen to win the fiercely competitive series.
Designed with GT racing in mind, The Bend will also host a Sprint Round of this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge (GTWC) Australia powered by AWS this May. The second part of the 2021 season sees GTWC Australia teams fight for the Motorsport Australia Endurance Championship and the series will make a return trip to The Bend in October for a 3-hour race.
The global category has gained a new lease on life this year and is set to be coupled with an influx of new cars with Porsche, Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG, McLaren, Audi, Lamborghini and more all expected to feature in a pair of one-hour races.
Already a venue of ‘firsts’, The Bend will see another new chapter in the sport begin as the heavily revised SuperUtes category prepares to launch at this year’s OTR SuperSprint.
Now powered by V8 engines, the SuperUtes series will make their racing return with their new powerplants at The Bend this May. Initially launched with Diesel engines, the category – featuring ‘Tradie’ Utes like the Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota Hilux – has been reinvented with each car now powered by a 6.2-litre LS3 producing more than 300kw.
As well as being more powerful, the revamped cars are lighter and faster and are expected to produce spectacular racing when they debut this year.
Meanwhile, a big field of Group N Historic Touring Cars will give fans of the way racing used to be something to enjoy.
Historic Touring Car racer Paul Stubber is one of several notable drivers to have confirmed their intent to tackle The Bend, his 1969 Camaro one of the most spectacular cars in Group N racing. More than 35 Expression of Interest forms have already been lodged with The Bend by prospective Historic Touring Cars competitors from across Australia.
As well as the four confirmed support race categories, the OTR SuperSprint will see a heavily revised off-track program in 2021, including new spectator areas, improved accessibility with the return of a CBD shuttle, and more things to see and do when the cars aren’t on the circuit. More details will be announced in due course.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2021 OTR SuperSprint at The Bend Motorsport Park, to be held on May 7-9 and can be purchased via Ticketek. Corporate and VIP Packages are available online via thebend.com.au
Quotes: Sam Shahin, Managing Director - The Bend Motorsport Park
“The OTR SuperSprint at The Bend Motorsport Park will be the biggest motorsport event in South Australia this year, so it needed an on-track program to match,” Said Shahin.
“In Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS, The Bend has attracted the two premier internationally-based GT racing series in the country to race this year.
“The intensity of the one-make Carrera Cup racing and the incredible supercars of GT World Challenge will be perfectly suited to The Bend’s 4.9km International Circuit.
“It’s exciting to see a new era for SuperUte racing start at The Bend – a race in the stunning South Australian countryside the perfect place for V8-Powered Utes to strut their stuff.
“Finally, we have been blown away by the interest from Historic Touring Car (Group N) competitors who want to demonstrate their beautiful cars at The Bend this year – there will be a massive field and great racing from them.”
Tickets: http://bit.ly/SupercarsTheBend