Australian International Pedal Prix Inc. is pleased to announce the Provisional Calendar for the 2021 UniSA Australian Human Powered Vehicle Super Series.
The six round series will again encompass events in South Australia and Western Australia, but the focus is now one of consolidation and risk management. With no races able to be held in 2020 due to Coronavirus, greater consideration of spatial control, social distancing and COVID management has been at the forefront of organisers minds in designing the Series.
As a result, the 2021 calendar sees a significant change with the introduction of a new venue, South Australia’s The Bend Motorsport Park, scheduled to be utilised twice during the season.
Adelaide’s Victoria Park, which has in recent years held two rounds of the series, will now host the June event only. Additionally, the Riverland town of Loxton, which was positioning to establish a new agreement to host a round, has been dropped from the 2021 Calendar.
Busselton will again host a round in August, Western Australia’s event capital providing a stable base for the state’s primary HPV event.
The season is scheduled to get the green light again at Mt Gambier. The Series’ first round there will utilise McNamara Park, on the outskirts of the City, on 27 March 2021.
Chairman Andrew McLachlan shared the Board’s thoughts and considerations behind the provisional schedule:
“2020 has been a year like no other. It has created challenges and stresses across the globe, and continues to do so. The Board of AIPP Inc. takes this opportunity to extend it’s thoughts and sympathies to all those so deeply affected through loss and trauma experienced during 2020. For the UniSA Australian HPV Super Series, it stopped us in our tracks. Just as we were preparing to launch the season, the threat of the virus was upon us, and try as we did, it never became manageable and safe enough to conduct our events. In the interests of our community, it was critical we adhered to government advise and guidelines. We must thank all our competitors, teams and families for their patience and perseverance this year. It has not been easy.
So as we worked towards 2021, certain things became clear. We cannot expect our world to return to the old normal, COVID-19, or at least the threat of it, will be with us for some time to come, and changes have to be made in response. Key to these changes is spatial density management – how people locate together, and the duration for which they do so. To this point, the new circuit on our provisional calendar, The Bend Motorsport Park, offers great opportunity with many controllable and varied designated areas, not to mention it is a brand new facility incorporating a brilliantly smooth and safe track with numerous circuit layout options. As such it is planned to be utilised on two separate occasions next year.
Unfortunately we will lose Loxton, at least for next year, whose Council and community have been incredibly supportive over the last six years. Adelaide will provide further challenges in planning and resourcing but may also offer some new opportunities. Similarly, the jewel in the crown, the Sturt Reserve circuit at Murray Bridge will need some strategic thinking applied before the final format is confirmed.
The format of all rounds is likely to see some significant changes and will be released progressively. As a first step, the unveiling of this provisional calendar, is a major milestone in the return to the track and will provide the catalyst for finalising details for next year. In summary, our sport continues to see strong demand. We look forward with positive anticipation to season 2021 and the new and exciting developments it will bring.”
2021 UniSA Australian HPV Super Series Provisional Calendar
