As Sandown celebrates 60 years of endurance racing, the way forward for the enduring Melbourne observe stays within the steadiness.
Adjustments to the historic venue have been touted for years with the thoroughbred physique, the Melbourne Racing Membership, weighing up whether or not to promote or redevelop the realm.
It doesn’t matter what occurs in that course of, the well-known Sandown 500 might nonetheless be bumped from the Supercars calendar subsequent 12 months.
A choice on the 2025 schedule is imminent, possible subsequent month across the time of the Bathurst 1000, and Supercars is contemplating growing to a 13-round season.
But when the class stays at 12 rounds subsequent 12 months, then Sandown will possible be axed in favour of a return to Queensland Raceway, which hasn’t hosted a spherical since 2019.
Triple Eight co-driver Scott Pye stated he’d be dissatisfied if this weekend’s Sandown 500 was the final time Supercars raced on the observe, in Melbourne’s east.
“Having the ability to race right here so many occasions, it is one among my favorite tracks,” Pye stated.
“If you observe stroll, you take a look at how a lot the circuit’s deteriorated, but it surely’s one of many issues that provides character right here.
“Even for the spectators, I believe it is a actually cool circuit. There’s an ideal view.
“However finally, it has been right here a very long time, and issues do come to an finish, so I am undecided what the long run holds.
“I might like to see it stick round for so long as we will drive vehicles right here, however finally, it is lower than us.”
Pye’s co-driver, championship chief Will Brown, believes a golden alternative was missed to make Sandown a retro spherical.
“The largest factor for me, it takes candy f*** all to run a run a retro spherical,” Brown stated.
“I believe Sandown’s lacking that, it will have been superior to have that this 12 months.
“Even when Sandown’s off the calendar, I might like to see it (retro spherical) come again elsewhere.”
Brown and Pye have been second-fastest in Friday’s third observe session for the Sandown 500, solely being pipped by Erebus’s Jack Le Brocq and Jayden Ojeda.
The Pink Bull Ampol star enters the endurance sequence with an 81-point buffer within the championship standings over Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Chaz Mostert.
“I might slightly be within the lead than anyplace else, that is for positive,” Brown stated.
“We’re in an ideal place.
“Chad’s completed a unbelievable job within the final couple of rounds.”
Qualifying will happen on Saturday, with the 161-lap race on Sunday.
AAP
