After an outstanding return to racing earlier this year, the 2021 Penrite Australian V8 Superboats Championship was forced to bring the schedule to a halt mid-season as the Covid-19 pandemic began to spread across the country, enforcing border closures which made continuing the program all but impossible.
Since then, increased vaccination rates have allowed the various State Governments to make decisions about opening borders once again, providing a clearer picture of how the Australian Formula Jet Sprint Association [AFJSA] could return to competition, the recent AGM revealing an announcement about the conclusion of the 2021 program.
“There were a number of considerations to take into account, not the least the safety of all our teams and fans, but also the logistics and financial implications to the sport and the Clubs should we have moved too soon to get back to racing,” AFJSA President Justin Roylance explained.
“With some state borders now reopened (under set restrictions), and others looking to reopen in the coming weeks, we felt that it was clear enough for us to put a plan in place to conclude the 2021 season, then start to look at options for the 2022 calendar, something we hope to do in the next few weeks.”
The Tweed Valley Jet Sprint Club will host the return of the 2021 program, but not until late February [2022] with back-to-back rounds [round four and five] set for Saturday and Sunday the 26th and 27th, whilst the annual Keith Diesel & Dirt Derby – which was postponed in 2021 – will play host to the final round on March 26.
“That allows us to conclude the 2021 season and crown the 2021 champions after two challenging seasons,” Roylance confirmed. “Then we keep our fingers crossed that we can all start to settle into a rhythm with how the world operates alongside the pandemic, and get a full season of racing in, with seven additional rounds proposed to complete the 2022 calendar year.”
Whilst the Tweed Valley will play host to the return of the Penrite Series, the popular Cabarita-based venue will also host a test day on December 4, where a number of top teams- including some from the southern states – are expected to blow out the cobwebs and set themselves up for a return to competition just three months later.
2021 Penrite Australian V8 Superboats Championship
Rnd#1 – Keith, SA – 27 March, 2021 (Diesel & Dirt Derby)
Rnd#2 – Temora, NSW – 1 May, 2021 (Colin Parish Memorial)
Rnd#3 – Tweed Coast, NSW – 19-20 June, 2021
Rnd#4 – Tweed Coast, NSW – 26 February, 2022
Rnd#5 – Tweed Coast, NSW – 27 February, 2022
Rnd#6 – Keith, SA – 26 March, 2022 (Diesel & Dirt Derby) [FINAL]
For more information on the 2021 Penrite Australian V8 Superboats Championship, please visit www.v8superboats.com.au
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