After a successful return to racing on Sunday 21stJune, the WA Sporting Car Club has worked with Motorsport Australia to grant permits for spectators to return to Wanneroo Raceway for the Improved Production Racing Tander Cup and Excel Enduro race weekend this Saturday and Sunday 11th/12th July.
With the West Australian government transitioning into the Phase 4 easing of COVID-19 restrictions, the Club wanted to ensure that they could welcome back spectators whilst also adhering to the Motorsport Australia return to race guideline which are based around a general overview of keeping motorsport safe throughout Australia.
The new agreement reached between Motorsport Australia and the WA Sporting Car Club will permit up to 4 pit crew, up from 1 at the previous round, and spectators permitted in the Park and View areas of Turns 2, 3 and 7 for only $5 per car.
All social distancing measures will still be in place including 1.5m distancing, the in-pit drivers' briefing, hand sanitisation stations, etc.
The race meet to be held over two days will feature the Tander Cup, named after former West Australian Garth Tander, a former Supercars and Formula Ford Champion as well as a multiple Bathurst 1000 winner.
On Saturday the Sports Sedans, Sports Cars and Street Cars make their return to the track alongside the Historic Touring, Formula, Time Challenge and Excel Cup categories.
On Sunday the F1000 and SR3 Radicals return after their 4 month hiatus joining the Formula Vee, Formula Ford, Improved Production and Saloon Car categories, whilst the Excel Cup cars will finish out the day with a 40 lap endurance race.
The return of spectators will be a welcome sight for drivers as they take to the 2.4km circuit which celebrated its 51st Birthday at the February round of racing prior to COVID-19 restrictions. The park and view areas of turns 2, 3 and 7 provide for some spectacular views of the action whether it be the cars climbing through the esses into Turn 4 or down the hill and into the final turn before hitting the start finish line.
The WA Sporting Car Club will have regular updates throughout the day on their social media pages as well as post event highlights available.
All the track action starts at 8am, and updates will be posted throughout the day.
QUOTES
WASCC Chair of the Competition & Events Committee - Peter Dyball
"It's great to move to Phase 4 restrictions in WA and in very quick time Motorsport Australia reviewed their Return to Race guidelines to align with the varying restrictions in each state. We're looking forward to teams having the opportunity for up to 4 pit crew and seeing some spectators over on the Turn 2 hill."
"We managed to conduct the June meeting with some very tight restrictions. As of 27th June we can have more crew as well as spectators, the July race meeting and Tarmac Sportz events will be almost back to normal."
"I have to say that all the way through the COVID-19 situation Motorsport Australia have been really proactive. Their Return to Race document was fair, clear and unambiguous. Then as each state moved to different levels of restrictions, within days they were able to revise the Return to Race document. They've made sure that motorsport has resumed as soon as possible and is available to as many people as allowed. The Motorsport Australia team have facilitated an excellent outcome."
It's going to be fantastic to have spectators back at Wanneroo. Of course all the COVID-19 protocols around distancing and hand sanitising remain."
"The Tander Cup race weekend will be a good opportunity to be a park and view spectator. Bring the family and park on the hill at Turns 2 and 3. I'd love the park and view to be like the old days at the footy, horns honking with very goal scored. Maybe we can start something for each race winner and honk as they come around on their cooldown lap!"
