THE 2021 Bathurst 12 Hour has become another casualty of the coronavirus pandemic, with the event scrapped less than four months out.
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The international travel restrictions mean the event would not be able to attract the usual field, which always features international drivers and teams, and therefore could not be a round of the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
Sean Seamer, the CEO of Supercars, which owns the 12 Hour, said it would be too difficult to organise the event with those restrictions.
"This is a tough decision but ultimately one we had to make," he said.
"Since Supercars began managing the event it has grown to become one of the largest endurance events globally, showcasing our spiritual home of racing to an international audience.
"With Australia's international borders expected to remain closed, we feel it is in the best interest of competitors, fans, sponsors and broadcasters to make the decision now on next year's event.
"We are absolutely committed to having the event return to Australia's motor sport calendar in 2022."
The NSW Government has also announced that the state will host the opening round of the Supercars Championship in 2021, an honour held in recent years by South Australia.
The government will also support other Supercars events, those being the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2022-2025 and the Sydney SuperNight 2021-2025.
Funding support for these events, which is managed though the tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, also includes a strategic sponsorship of the Bathurst 1000 for the next five years.
While there has been no confirmation on where the first round of the Supercars Championship will be held, Mr Seamer hinted on Sunday evening, after the conclusion of the Bathurst 1000, that it would be at Mount Panorama.
"I wish everybody a good time, get home, get home safely, and enjoy some down time with your families and we'll get back here to Bathurst in February," he said.
