Supercars racing will return to Ipswich and Tailem Bend in 2025 in an expanded format that nevertheless has no room for the endangered Newcastle street circuit.
NSW's second city has once again been left off the calendar after it was axed as the 2024 season opener following a break-down in negotiations between the sport's organisers, Destination NSW and Newcastle City Council.
Next year's curtain-raiser will instead be held under lights in a twilight race at Sydney Motorsport Park on February 21-23, Supercars announced on Friday.
In August, the grid head to the recently-upgraded Queensland Raceway in Ipswich for the first time since 2019 before returning to Tailem Bend, which missed out in 2024, for the South Australian racetrack's first-ever endurance event.
Other changes to the roster include bringing forward the Symmons Plains event in Tasmania to May, while the historic Sandown circuit in Melbourne will be shifted from its traditional timeslot as the endurance season opener to the series' penultimate round in November.
The expanded 13-race format, up from 12 in 2024, solidifies Supercars' footprint in Australia and internationally, said Supercars chief executive Shane Howard.
"We're thrilled about the strategic additions and shifts in the calendar, including moving Sandown to a November date and debuting an endurance round at The Bend," he said.
"We're incredibly excited to announce the return of the Ipswich event in 2025. After a few years off the calendar, we know fans in southeast Queensland have been eager for its return."
Australia's most famous motor race, the Bathurst 1000, will hold onto its traditional place in the calendar and run from October 9-12, while Adelaide will once again host the season finale from November 27-30.
In June, Supercars makes its way to Perth's Wanneroo raceway for potentially its final time with the Western Australia government committed to a street circuit in the city from 2026.
The omission of Newcastle drives a further nail into the coffin of hopes to revive the circuit, which first saw racing in 2017.
Supercars has previously expressed its commitment to racing in the coastal town but the event has faced opposition from residents and local councillors, who have voiced complaints over noise, dust and disruption.
The race was canned for 2024 when Newcastle council wouldn't agree to a counter offer for a one-year extension after pushing for a five-year deal to retain the race.
2025 SUPERCARS CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR
February 21-23: Sydney SuperNight, Sydney Motorsport Park, NSW
March 13-16: Melbourne, Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, VIC
April 11-13: Taupo, Taupo International Motorsport Park, NZ
May 9-11: Tasmania, Symmons Plains, TAS
June 6-8: Perth, Wanneroo Raceway, WA
June 20-22: Darwin Triple Crown, Hidden Valley, NT
July 11-13: Townsville, Reid Park, QLD
August 8-10: Ipswich, Queensland Raceway, QLD
September 12-14: Tailem Bend Endurance Race, The Bend Motorsport Park, SA
Octtober 9-12: Bathurst 1000, Mount Panorama, NSW
October 24-26: Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise, QLD
November 14-16: Sandown, Melbourne, VIC
November 27-30: Adelaide, East Parklands, SA.
