Supercars border dash ends early
Queensland-based Supercars teams have returned home now the threat of the Brisbane COVID-19 outbreak has subsided.
As first revealed by Motorsport.com, Triple Eight, Dick Johnson Racing and Matt Stone Race all fled the Sunshine State last week due to a pair of COVID clusters.
The small spike in cases led to a snap three-day lockdown in Brisbane while a number of other states closed their borders to either the Queensland capital or the state itself.
Among them was Tasmania, which slapped a hard border on the affected local government areas that would have made it impossible for Brisbane-based T8 to get into the state for next weekend's Symmons Plains round.
There was also the risk the virus spread would grow to the Gold Coast and DJR and MSR would be directly affected.
As a result all three teams moved to New South Wales and the Symmons event was pushed back a week to create a two-week buffer to avoid any border hassles.
However the Brisbane cluster appear to have since been stamped out, Queensland having not reported a locally-acquired case for three days.
As a result Tasmania has scaled its border controls back to specific premises, allowing the Queensland teams to return home as they continue preparations for the trip to Tasmania.
The return will be a welcome one for the three teams who were bracing to be on the road until mid-May had the outbreak grew.
It's also a significant win for series leader Shane van Gisbergen, who can continue hyperbaric treatment on his broken collarbone and ribs and has an additional week of recovery before tackling the bumpy Launceston circuit.
Like all Australian sports, Supercars has spent the past year dealing with strict – and largely inconsistent – internal border controls as the country has kept a tight grip on the virus.
The Victoria-based teams spent more than 100 days on the road last season as Melbourne battled its deadly outbreak.
Related video
Previous article
Van Gisbergen claims Bathurst Triple Crown
Next article
New Zealand bubble boost for Supercars
About this article
| Series | Supercars |
| Teams | Triple Eight Race Engineering , Matt Stone Racing , Dick Johnson Racing |
| Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
Supershots Sandown
Supershots Bathurst
Sam Brabham drives BT-19 at Mount Panorama
Can DJR still be a Supercars powerhouse after Penske?
Roger Penske's whirlwind Australian Supercars sojourn is over. After six seasons, three drivers' titles, three teams' championships and a Bathurst 1000 crown, The Captain has sold his controlling stake in Dick Johnson Racing back to the squad and walked away from the category.
Can Whincup be Triple Eight's ruthless leader?
Supercars' most successful team of the past 15 years is set for a radical shakeup next year when Jamie Whincup retires from driving and takes over the reins at Triple Eight. But does he have what it takes to be the new Roland Dane?
How a lifetime Supercars deal broke down in one year
David Reynolds inked what was effectively a lifetime deal with Erebus in 2019 – only to walk out a year later. What went wrong?
Why Supercars now needs a new "human salt harvester"
Scott McLaughlin has been a controversial figure in Supercars over the past few years but, as he heads off to a fresh challenge in IndyCar, the Australian tin-top series needs to find someone else to fill his drama-filled boots as the category enters a new era...
Why 2020 isn't McLaughlin's greatest title
Scott McLaughlin was quick to describe his third Supercars title as his best yet. But even though it didn't match the dramatic backstory of his 2018 triumph, there's a good reason for him wanting to control the narrative this time around.
Why a Bathurst finale is risky business for Supercars
The Bathurst Grand Final may provide Supercars its greatest spectacle yet – but there's a risk it will force the series to face a hard truth.
Why Scott McLaughlin must become an IndyCar driver
Scott McLaughlin, two-time and current Supercars champion, should have been making his NTT IndyCar Series debut for Team Penske at the GP of Indianapolis, but the Covid-19 pandemic forced a rescheduling that has put the brakes on his career switch. But David Malsher-Lopez explains why the New Zealander deserves this opportunity as soon as possible.
Tickford's 10-year wait for James Courtney
When the Supercars season resumes James Courtney will be a Tickford Racing driver – but it's not the first time the star driver has flirted with the famous Ford squad.
