Austin Cindric has indicated a possible debut in the Supercars series during this season’s Adelaide Grand Final in Australia, generating buzz among motorsport fans. The NASCAR driver previously tested a Supercars vehicle several years ago, and this new opportunity could further expand his diverse racing portfolio. The prospect of Cindric’s Austin Cindric Supercars debut potential highlights his ongoing interest in racing beyond NASCAR’s oval tracks.
Early Connections with Australian Motorsport
Nearly ten years ago, Supercars appeared as a viable option in Cindric’s racing trajectory, though he ultimately remained focused on NASCAR. Still, sports car and road racing have always been integral to his racing background. In 2015, Cindric participated in the Bathurst 12 Hour endurance event with Erebus Motorsport, a notable Australian Supercars-affiliated team. Although that race is distinct from the Supercars championship, it exposed him early on to the racing culture and competition in Australia.
Insight from Recent Interview on Future Plans
During a conversation on The Teardown podcast with Jeff Gluck and Jordan Bianchi, Cindric addressed rumors about his possible Supercars appearance, emphasizing that while the idea remains under consideration, no official plans have been finalized.
“Nothing to really announce, but it’s something I’ve looked at for a long time,”
Cindric said.
“Even when I was younger, I’ve gone down and raced the Bathurst 12 Hour. Done some tests in some Supercars. So, it’s something I’ve kind of always kept a pulse on. Obviously, Ford has a huge presence down there. So, it would be something I would absolutely love to do, but obviously, schedules aligning is a pretty challenging thing.”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR Driver
Recent Endurance Racing Experience at Daytona
This season, Ford selected Cindric as a late replacement driver for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he contributed to the Ford Mustang GT3 car’s third-place finish. This marked his sixth appearance in the prestigious endurance event, underscoring his versatility beyond NASCAR. His participation reflects his capability in multi-discipline racing formats, naturally leading to new opportunities on different continents.
Ambitions Beyond NASCAR: Le Mans and Indy 500
Cindric has expressed a clear ambition to compete in other major motorsport events, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indy 500. He shared his desire to participate in Le Mans if scheduling permits, considering it a prestigious goal in his career.
“I’d say probably first on the list that I need to have no schedule conflicts for would be 24 Hours of Le Mans,”
he explained.
“I’m waiting for the right moment to beg leadership from NASCAR for our off-week to be a specific week in June, so I could go do Le Mans. I actually have had offers to do it, especially when I was younger and silver-rated and so on. I could either do the Xfinity race in Iowa or go do the 24 Hours of Le Mans. … That’s a race that I’d absolutely love to do. And once again, Ford’s got the GT3 car lined up over there.”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR Driver
“So, I think there’d be some good opportunity to do it if I had the time. I’ve only heard amazing things about that event. I would say next to that on the list is Indy 500. Nothing that’s like, I need to do it now, but I would think that my racing career wouldn’t be complete without doing that race.”
—Austin Cindric, NASCAR Driver
Implications of a Supercars Debut
If Austin Cindric makes his Supercars debut this season, it would mark a significant step in blending his NASCAR expertise with Australian touring car racing. Fans and analysts alike will be watching to see if Cindric can replicate or even exceed the success of drivers who have crossed between series, possibly challenging for a win in his first outing. His broad racing experience, combined with Ford’s strong involvement in both NASCAR and Supercars, could make for a compelling crossover event this year.
