![]() The November date was an interesting call on multiple fronts firstly weather, with an average temperature range at that time of the year being 8-16☌ with rain, and secondly, it clashed with Rally Australia, a key event for host broadcaster, Network 10.Īt the time, it was also mentioned that the 2005 version of the race would likely be brought forward to June, and enjoy much warmer weather.Īlso of note in September ’03 was a replacement of the original promoters, who were refunded their deposit, replaced by the Shanghai Greenland Sports & Culture Development Company Ltd, who paid a fresh deposit to secure the event. The official signing of the promotion agreement would be postponed again from July to August, with the event finally being confirmed on September 22 nd 2003 to run from November 12-14 2004, which saw the meet replace Phillip Island on the V8 calendar. ![]() Sixteen and a half years later, another strain of SARS-CoV would cause COVID-19, and the current pandemic we are living through. SARS actually made it to Australia, with six cases reported, and zero fatalities.įortunately, public health measures such as face masks and simple personal hygiene practices, combined with clinical isolation and quarantining, proved to be able to contain the outbreak by the start of July 2003. It’s not simple, but we’re proceeding on the basis that this will be gone before we go to China.” I think we’d have some trouble convincing the teams to go there if there is still question marks over the situation. ![]() The big question would be whether something like this would come under the guidelines of a force majeure in terms of the contract. ![]() “This has the potential to ruin the event if (the virus) is still hanging around. With the deadly SARS virus taking flight around the world, the scheduled signing of the final contract between the Chinese promoter and AVESCO in Shanghai would be scrubbed, raising the prospect of simultaneous ceremonies being undertaken on either side of the equator. Read the headline in Auto Action in March 2003. Shanghai is the most populated city in China, which at the time it had a population of 15 million people, that since 2003 has grown to nearly 28 million. #V8 supercars racing room introduced tv#The arrangement somewhat came out of the blue, with pundits expecting the category to visit the Middle East and South Africa, with the China deal coming complete with a significant free to air TV package into the area. ![]() The deal was sealed with an eight-person delegation visiting Shanghai, including Cochrane, Garry Rogers, Channel 10’s David White, as well as CAMS representatives.įrom the venue standpoint, at the time of the announcement, it was undecided if the event would be held at the 2km long, 14 turn Shanghai Tianma Circuit, which would host the WTCC in 2011, or the Formula One-grade Shanghai International Circuit, which was ultimately the facility of choice.īacked by the Chinese Development Group, a joint venture between the Shanghai Weice Business Company and the Chinese Government, the event was to be a standalone, and not in support of the country’s F1 race. #V8 supercars racing room introduced series#“The Most Significant Move in Australian Sport”Įxclaimed AVESCO Chairman Tony Cochrane at the time.įollowing 18 months of behind the scenes negotiations, V8 Supercars shocked the industry in February 2003 with the announcement of a five-year deal to take the Australasian series north to China from 2004 to ’08. While the 2020 and ’21 Supercars calendars have been thrown into disarray by COVID-19, it is not the first time a Coronavirus has impacted the sport.īetween late 2002 and mid-’03, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, was sweeping China, a country V8 Supercars was scheduled to visit for the first time in 2004. ![]()
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