V8 Supercar Championship Series Goes Global And Beyond
14/4/2004 22:27 (Press Release) -
Australia’s third most watched sport will extend its international reach when the V8 Supercar Championship Series moves its entire operation to Shanghai for a race at the Shanghai International Circuit next year.
AVESCO chairman Tony Cochrane today announced that a deal had been reached with Shanghai promotor the Greenland Group to stage a V8 Supercar race at the Shanghai International Circuit from June 3-5 2005.
The V8 Supercar Championship Series will race at the circuit each year for the next five years.
AVESCO views China as the perfect new international partner given that it is now Australia’s third largest trading partner and by 2008 will provide Australia with more tourists than any other country.
“This is the dawn of a new era in a sport that has shown the largest growth of any in Australia,” Mr Cochrane said.
“Our sport has significant recognition and reach in Asia where 60 million people watch each round. China, through CCTV, increases our international television audience to 70 countries and brings V8 Supercars into more than 500 million homes.
“AVESCO would like to extend the championship even further across the world. China is a significant stepping stone into the world market and will form a blueprint should we decide to race in other countries.
“We are now recognised as a truly international sport and will only continue to grow.”
The event had been scheduled for November 12-14 this year but has been moved to ensure the event promotors had time to ensure the complex logistics of staging such an event were achieved to everyone’s satisfaction.
“At the end of the day I had to take the pragmatic decision on behalf of the entire championship with the number one priority being the teams themselves,” Mr Cochrane said.
“To move the amount of people and equipment to a new circuit thousands of kilometres away is a task of massive proportions. Some extra time will also allow the promoter to be more certain in capturing his live audience given the uncertain and often inclement weather in Shanghai in November.
Mr Cochrane said a V8 Supercar Series race will still be held on November 12-14 at a venue in New Zealand or Australia.
“That date cannot change. Our final decision on the location will be resolved in the next two weeks,” he said.
The Shanghai International Circuit will host its first event when Formula One takes to the track in September.
“This circuit and its facilities will be the best our teams will have seen. Teams, supporters and the media will be hosted in some of the best sporting facilities in the world, another great positive for our sport.”
The Shanghai International Circuit is a state of the art facility with spectacular architecture. It was designed by Formula One’s premier track designer Hermann Tilke.
Release Date: 04/04/2004
AVESCO
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