A move by Formula One to push the Supercars out of pit lane into a “remote paddock” for the Melbourne Grand Prix has not gone down well with Supercars chief Shane Howard.
Howard says the situation needs to be rectified and he was working with former AFL executive and new Australian Grand Prix Corporation chief Travis Auld to fix the issue.
The Formula One is prioritising its F2 and F3 categories, and wants the Supercars team to work in tents in the space — which Howard dubbed a “remote paddock” — behind the second pit lane.
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The decision also means there will be no pit stops during the Supercars sprints, and there will be no general admission access in that area for Supercars’ army of fans.
Supercars has been on the undercard at the Melbourne Grand Prix since 2018, but last year F2 and F3 were also introduced to Albert Park.
“This year will be a big change for us and we are working through that with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation,” Howard told News Corp.
Ryan Walkinshaw believes the F1 needs to show the Supercars more respect. Credit: Getty Images
“We would like to be in the pit lane … but we acknowledge that Formula Two is Formula One’s primary support.
“I understand their process in regard to it not being a general admission area because when you are trying to move race cars and lots of people in that area, it’s a recipe for a problem.
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“But we have been working very closely with Travis Auld and his team and Travis has made it very clear that he wants us there and he will look to try and do everything we can to improve what we have so we can put on a good show.
“But we need to rectify this situation with the fans. It is very important for our fans to be able to get access to our drivers and our teams. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to fix it this year but we are going to work together and see if we can fix this (for the following year).”
Last year, Supercars extended its contract with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation but only by a year.
Howard said a decision would now be made about Supercars’ future at the event and if it would be back in 2025.
“We want to be back but we will need to address those areas,” Howard said.
“We’ll need to work with the corporation to deliver on everybody’s expectations, be that our own being a championship round, being in a remote paddock and giving the fans what they want (which is) good racing and access to our category.”
Walkinshaw Andretti United co-owner Ryan Walkinshaw blasted the F1’s decision.
“I do think it’s important (to be there) and I won’t pretend that I am not frustrated by the way I feel Supercars have been treated,” Walkinshaw said.
“We have been a staple of that event for a long time, the fans love us, the corporate partners that we have see it as a really important event and we do an enormous event of partner activations both on track and off track during the course of the F1 week, especially for my team with having Zak (Brown) in town from McLaren. It’s hugely important to us.
“It is frustrating when you see we are getting these races at unusual times and they are very, very short. I think we deserve better.”
Supercars will race on all four days of the Melbourne grand prix, from March 21-24.
There will also be two twilight Supercars races, with Thursday’s Race 3 and Saturday’s Race 5 to start at 6pm AEDT.
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