Supercars teams and drivers are on standby
Several Queensland-based Supercars employees have postponed flights ahead of the Winton SuperSprint this weekend due to a growing COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
The trip to Victoria is being left as late as possible amid fears the outbreak could jeopardize the fifth event of the Repco Supercars Championship at Winton Motor Raceway.
There are also concerns that teams and drivers in Queensland could be quarantined upon their return from Victoria in case the Queensland government designates the state as a hot spot.
Currently, the Queensland government has only designated the Whittlesea city area as a hot spot.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide government has banned anyone who was the Whittlesea City LGA, Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites from entering the state.
Teams can fly to Melbourne and on to Regional Victoria, but they risk being in a hot spot if a state makes a statement.
Alternatively, teams could travel to Winton via Albury or Canberra, but even then, Queensland could make the entire state of Victoria a hot spot.
This uncertainty means that the teams will wait and see.
Acting Prime Minister James Merlino today announced 10 new cases of coronavirus in the southern state, bringing the total active cases to 23.
The Prime Minister noted that the next 24 hours are of vital importance for the state and would not rule out further action.
Supercars have not yet given the teams any instructions so that they can decide on their own travel plans.
Currently, the organizer of the Winton SuperSprint event – Benalla Auto Club – has received the green light from the Victorian government to proceed as planned.
The Benalla Auto Club has received approval from the Victorian government for its plan to reduce the coronavirus.
However, if the event takes place, the audience is likely to change.
There is talk of the spectators being divided into zones around the racetrack, similar to this year’s Mount Panorama 500 at the start of the season.
In the states affected by COVID-19, the paddock has been closed to the public, including this year’s Sandown SuperSprint.