Monday, 6 July 2020:
It is just as well Supercars teams are used to racing against the clock.
Monday's announcement of the closure of the NSW-Victoria border sparked a mad scramble for the five Supercars outfits based in the COVID-19 hit state.
Vehicles and equipment were packed into the teams' transporters before a ragged convoy hit the road in late afternoon in a bid to get over the border before midnight.
Ex-Ford factory team Tickford Racing, which races four Mustangs and another vehicle in the development Super2 category, loaded up three trucks bound for the border.
As well as the cars, Tickford also had to get approximately 30 staff members out of the state.
Joining them on the dash north were Walkinshaw Andretti United, Erebus Motorsport's Penrite Racing entries, Holden's Team 18 and Kelly Racing.
Drivers Nick Percat and Todd Hazelwood, who race for the Albury-based Brad Johns Racing, were also hitting the road to quit the state as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the border would shut to Melbourne residents first and then extend to all Victorian residents from 11:59pm on Tuesday.
"I got the call at 11am this morning informing me that the borders would be shut tomorrow night, and then half-an-hour later I got another call to say they were closing tonight," Team 18 owner Charlie Schwerkolt said.
"We have had to scramble around, pack the truck with our cars and equipment and hit the road for Sydney Motorsport Park.
"The team will stay in Albury tonight before continuing their journey and they will set up at the circuit tomorrow."
Supercars have announced garages at Sydney Motorsport Park, where the next round of the championship will be held on July 18 and 19, will be opened to affected teams from Tuesday.
Most teams were planning to stay the night in locations just over the NSW border before deciding their next move.
Accommodation locations for affected staff and drivers are yet to be confirmed.
"It's hard for the team. I feel for the crew, the drivers and their families," Schwerkolt said.
"It's a big scramble getting everyone prepared to go away for what could be a month on the road."
