To anyone who follows Australian motorsport those names are as recognisable as Ford and Holden are to the wider community.

They were circuits that staged touring car rounds for years, but today they have either disappeared under housing or are hosting lower profile events.

Their demise was linked to competition from other tracks which offered more modern facilities and a better deal for promoters.

It appears Winton Motor Raceway is now in the same position.

The enormity of the challenge faced by the circuit’s owner, the Benalla Auto Club, in retaining a round of the Supercars category in 2017 is reflected in competition for events held each year.

Supercar bosses are eager to pursue rounds in Asia, a scenario reflected where they feel they can get big dollars.

Similarly state governments are not shy in courting those administrators, knowing a Supercar round can be a magnet for tourism.

The development of The Bend Motorsport Park east of Adelaide underlines this competition.

It already has a deal with Supercars to host a future round, despite the circuit still being under construction, and South Australian and federal government money is supplementing funding from the Tailem Bend’s circuit’s private owner.

Winton has benefited from assistance from the Victorian Government, but it is evident it is still struggling to keep up with its rivals.

While it is arguable whether taxpayers should help fund a private racetrack, the Victorian Government has long been helping bankroll big motorsport events.

Each year the subsidy to organisers of the Melbourne Formula One grand prix grows, with the total reaching $62 million for the 2015 race.

Likewise staging the motorcycle grand prix on Phillip Island leaves taxpayers out of pocket by $10 million.

Governments have argued such subsidies are offset by the economic boost generated by jobs and tourism.

That rationale should equally apply to Winton but it may be a case that Supercar promoters are more interested in more lucrative and modern locations.

If that is the case, to our great disappointment, Winton may sadly join the roll call of tracks that used to host Supercars.