The traditional pre-Bathurst 500km endurance race makes another move after previously being hosted at Queensland Raceway, Phillip Island and its regular home at Sandown to Shell V-Power Motorsport Park.
Shell V-Power Motorsport Park or The Bend first hosted a Supercars round in 2018 and an endurance event was due to occur in 2020 before the global pandemic forced the venue to host back-to-back sprint rounds.
Five years on, The Bend 500 will finally make its maiden appearance on the Repco Supercars Championship calendar as part of the new Ryco Enduro Cup.
It was confirmed leading into its maiden enduro appearance, Shell V-Power Motorsport Park will continue to host the traditional 500km pre-Bathurst enduro for the next three years.
Also as part of the build up to the event was the confirmation of aero changes for the Ford Mustangs.
Revised side skirts, rear wing position and smaller mirrors will be fitted alongside a shift-cut offset relative to the Chevrolet Camaro will be introduced.
These changes have been implemented to aid the Mustangs in a straight-line following a deficiency in this area being identified.
Joining the field for the Ryco Enduro Cup are three Wildcards ready to join the Supercars regulars.
Craig Lowndes will bid farewell to Triple Eight Race Engineering after 20 years this enduro season in its Wildcard where he will be joined by reigning Super2 Series winner Zach Bates.
Tickford Racing will field two of its current Super2 Series crop in Lochie Dalton and Rylan Gray, while Matt Stone Racing’s third entry is led by Cam Crick partnering alongside Aaron Seton.
All Supercars sessions will feature on Kayo and Fox Sports, while Monday morning highlights will feature on the Seven Network.
The coverage begins at 11:30am-5:15pm Friday, 9:00am-6:15am Saturday and 8:00am-6:40pm Sunday.
Network Seven’s highlights are scheduled for 12:30am-3:00am Monday (Broadcast times in AEST).
A late schedule change still features three Supercars practice on Friday beginning with the first at 11:10am then returning at 1:30pm for the co-drivers, with the final at 3:55pm.
A co-driver session kicks off Saturday’s action at 9:50am, then final practice at 12:00pm ahead of qualifying at 3:05pm. A Top 10 Shootout rounds out the day’s action at 4:50pm.
The Supercars warm up is at 9:30am and The Bend 500 commences at 1:45pm (times all in ACST).
Also, keep up to date throughout the weekend on the Repco Garage.