Another blockage of the travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand has left Supercars drivers Shane van Gisbergen and Andre Heimgartner facing a further 72-hour wait.
The two Kiwis returned to their home country to take part in last weekend’s New Zealand Grand Prix, which van Gisbergen won in emotional situations.
They first traveled across the Tasman under a border bubble arrangement that would allow them to re-enter Australia without the need for quarantine or self-isolation.
These plans were announced on Monday, however, when the Australian government struck a halt to the greenfield travel arrangement with NZ.
That was in response to a woman involved in the COVID-19 sex in South Africa who had been active in the community.
The detonating bubble is expected to be lifted at 2pm AEDT on Thursday, but is now extended until this coming Sunday.
That leaves van Gisbergen and Heimgartner facing a desperate wait as the start of the new Supercars season approaches.
If the bubble were reset as expected, both would be able to return in time for their preseason tests (12 February for van Gisbergen, 16 February for Heimgartner).
However, if put off forever, the pair can reach a mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine on their return to Australia – if they can find a place in the overloaded system.
That would rule van Gisbergen out of his pre-season trial, as he had to be in a hotel quarantine by Thursday to get out on time.
Heimgartner has effectively until next Monday to get into the quarantine system if needed, and get out in time for Kelly Grove Racing ‘s preseason test.
He plans to travel back to Australia on Sunday afternoon.
Once a person is placed in compulsory quarantine, they must see the full 14 days even if the rules change over time.
There is still some breathing space before the opening round of the 2021 Supercars season comes into question; drivers would only need to be in a hotel quarantine before 11 February to be out in time to take him to Mount Panorama.
Heimgartner is nursing an injury for that Bathurst opener, however, after holding two fractures in his hand during the NZGP weekend.
The 2021 Supercars Championship kicks off with the Mount Panorama 500 on February 26-28.
