Here is the thing, as Motorsport.com reports: the Phillip Island circuit is losing both MotoGP and the World Superbike Championship over the next few months, but top-level motorsport is far from finished at the venue. Supercars has officially stepped in with a massive multi-year agreement to bring Australia's premier touring car championship back to the iconic track from 2027 to 2031, covering the next five years.
MotoGP is preparing to host the Australian Grand Prix for the final time next weekend. The venue has staged the event almost continuously since 1997, alongside races in 1989 and 1990. Years of problems involving circuit access, island accommodation, and weather conditions forced the championship's hand. Following the strategy that Liberty Media has pursued in Formula 1, the action is moving closer to a major city centre. The Australian GP heads to Adelaide from 12-14 November 2027, utilizing a venue that was previously a street circuit and will be transformed into a permanent track through redevelopment.
WorldSBK, managed by the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (formerly Dorna), is also walking away. The championship will hold its final round at the Victorian venue as the season opener from 19-21 February 2027. From 2028, WorldSBK shifts to The Bend Motorsport Park, located around 100km from Adelaide.
Those departures sparked serious panic about the circuit's long-term survival. The anxiety grew even worse a few months ago when circuit designer Bob Barnard published an open letter warning that the venue faced the threat of disappearing and turning into a golf course.
Thankfully, Supercars has rescued the calendar. The category last raced at the circuit in 2019, and the newly inked five-year deal ensures the venue will remain a cornerstone of Australian motorsport. Not only is it coming back, but it will also play a prominent role by hosting a 'Finals' round during the decisive closing stage of the championship, which uses a three-round series to conclude the season.
“As we celebrate 30 years of Supercars in 2027, it feels incredibly fitting to return to Phillip Island, a circuit that formed part of our championship in 1997 and holds a special place in the history of our sport,” said Supercars Executive Chairman Barclay Nettlefold. “Phillip Island is an iconic venue that has delivered some memorable moments for Supercars, and we’re incredibly excited to bring the championship back and create a new chapter in that history for our fans, teams and drivers.”
