Fans promised new race date as COVID again stalls Newcastle Supercars opener

It has been two years since Supercars hit the streets of Newcastle after cancellations due to COVID, but organisers are adamant the virus will not stop the race going ahead this year.

The pandemic forced the cancellation of the Newcastle 500 street race in 2020 and 2021.

Organisers yesterday pulled the pin on this year's race, the March opener of the 2022 Supercars season, but insisted they are working on a new race date.

It was devastating news for Mitchell Griffin from the Newcastle Supercars Supporters Group.

«It's frustrating because we've had it cancelled for the last two years and we've got a lot of people keen for it to come back again,» he said.

«There's no other place in Australia where you see Supercars racing along a coastline as well as through the middle of a city. It's something that's very unique to Newcastle.

»It's a bit disappointing not having the first event of the year but we may end up being the last round again, which is always quite nice to see in the new Supercars champion."

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said the impact of COVID-19 on the many staff needed to set up the Newcastle street circuit was a major factor in the decision.

«COVID is taking its toll on a lot of businesses with large percentages of staff affected,» he said.

«With a street race, they're large scale events with big footprints. 

»It takes approximately 700 people to build and operate that event. You run on a very tight time frame and you need to guarantee you can deliver that, and [we] don't have that guarantee at the moment." 

Mr Howard admitted it was a tough call to make.

«It's disappointing, we all wanted to be there, but we had to make the tough decision,» he said.

He insisted talks were already underway to set a new race date.

«It's such