COMBINING the Supercars season finale with the Bathurst 12 Hour - it would make for one of the biggest motor sport events ever witnessed at Mount Panorama but Garth Tander warns it would also carry "implications".
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The prospect of running those events in conjunction was an option Supercars chief executive officer Sean Seamer revealed was being considered as the organisation considers the rest of the season.
It is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Three-times Bathurst 1000 victor Tander feels that combining those two events would make for a great Supercars finale, but said it would impact the driver line-up for the Bathurst 12 Hour.
"Don't say I agree [or] disagree, just the reality of it. I think the 12 Hour weekend would be a great championship finale, but there will be implications," Tander posted on Twitter.
"If it goes ahead, expect to see a lot less - if any - full-time Supercar drivers in Bathurst 12 Hour cars.
"Team owners, especially those with drivers in a championship battle, would likely not allow their drivers in the 12 Hour."
After Supercars acquired the promotional rights to the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2015, the clashes between the Australian motor sport series and the GT racing showpiece were resolved.
It has led to a host of Supercars drivers competing in the 12 Hour.
Tander has raced in the past five editions while the list of winners in the enduro include Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, Craig Lowndes and Jonathon Webb.
The 2020 edition of the Bathurst 12 Hour featured eight full-time Supercars drivers and a number of others who act as co-drivers for the endurance rounds.
Though the dates for the remaining events on the Supercars calendar could still be altered, Tander feels the Great Race will go ahead close to its originally scheduled time slot.
"I'd expect that we should be able to get the traditional 1000 done pretty close to the original October date," he said.
At this stage the Bathurst 1000 is planned for October 8-11, while the season finale had been set for December 4-6 at Newcastle.
Exactly when that last round is staged, and where, is still being discussed. However, Seamer said the aim is to hold it in New South Wales.
"We have a commitment to New South Wales that they have the final round," Seamer said.
"So, if Newcastle is not the final round, then the 12 Hour date gives us the opportunity to fulfil the obligation by having the finale in New South Wales if we were to run into next year.
"Obviously we've got a pretty good motor sport operations and event operations team.
"If we're both there on the same day [at Bathurst], I'm sure we'll be able to navigate it.
"I think the point for us is that if we need to run into next year to give the championship away, that we do have that date there and that event there to be utilised, should we need to."
