Newcastle 500 race will not feature on 2024 Supercars schedule

The Newcastle 500 Supercars will not return to the city in 2024 with the race being dropped from the race series’ calendar next year.

Despite the success of this year’s race - held on the weekend of 10th to 12th March - City of Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes confirmed the news on ABC Newcastle Breakfast on Thursday morning, following a telephone call with Supercars Chief Operating Officer Shane Howard.

Supercars had previously indicated it would like to extend the race in the city for a further five years and was in discussions with the NSW Government to do so.

However, a recent survey commissioned by the City of Newcastle found 59% of online respondents did not want the event to return for another five years.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp was among those opposed to the event continuing after a round of community consultation found a majority of respondents were against the race going ahead.

Mayor Nelmes said an event the size of the Newcastle 500 "would have to be supported by local state MPs for it to ever go ahead".

The development followed NSW Premier Chris Minns having called on the Council to make a decision on whether the street race would return.

The NSW Government had committed to funding a one-year extension, while a longer-term deal was negotiated.

In a statement, Supercars said it hoped to return to Newcastle in the future, advising "Supercars would like to confirm its commitment to racing in Newcastle in the future, and conversations in that regard are already underway.”

However, Mayor Nelmes says it is unclear whether the city will hold the race again beyond 2024.