Tasmanian Deal Takes V8 Supercar Championship Series National Again
10/5/2004 1:07 (Press Release) -
Australia’s premier Motorsport category and third most popular sport is national again following a deal with the Tasmanian Government to race at Symmons Plains for the next five years.
Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon and Australian Vee Eight Supercar Company (AVESCO) Chairman Tony Cochrane announced the signing of a heads of agreement in Hobart today. AVESCO Events is the official promoter of the event.
“This is a fantastic coup for the state – one I’m sure will be welcomed by Tasmanians who are passionate about their Motorsport,” Mr Lennon said.
“It will also generate unprecendented exposure for Tasmania, given that each event in the series is televised live to 500 million people in 70 countries.
“Tasmania will truly be on show to the world.”
Mr Cochrane said Tasmania’s inclusion in the series was a boon for the sport.
“We know it’s going to be a tremendous weekend of racing as it’s no secret how big the fane base is in this state,” he said.
“We are once again a truly national series that visits every state in Australia. Tasmania has been a lost link since we were last here in 1999 but not any more.”
The Symmons Plains circuit was chosen ahead of Phillip Island as the venue to replace Shanghai as the venue for Round 12 in this year’s championship series. Round 12 of the 2004 series was scheduled for China until delays meant the race had to be postponed until next June.
As it turned out, the rescheduling of Round 12 proved a tremendous boon for the V8 Supercar Championship Series and Tasmania. So good was the proposal from the Tasmanian Government and Tasmanian Events that a deal was reached to return to the venue for five years.
Under the terms of the agreement upwards of $2 million will be spent on upgrading facilities at Symmons Plains. It has been five years since the V8 Supercar Championship has raced at the track.
Current V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose is a born and bred Tasmanian. He was ecstatic about being able to return to his home state and race.
“It’s an absolute dream for me,” Ambrose said.
“To race with the No.1 on the side of my car at my home track is incredible. I’m a very proud Tasmanian and I’m going to enjoy every moment of it.”
Symmons Plains is a 2.4km circuit located 30 minutes to the south of Launceston. It is a 170km trip from Hobart meaning people can travel to and from the capital in a day to take in the race action.
The permanent facility has been a Tasmanian icon for 44 years. It is a fast circuit with a long sweeping back straight where V8 Supercars can be expected to reach speeds of around 300 km/h.
“It’s a circuit that is very conducive to tight racing,” Ambrose said. “It has good straight and good braking corners that makes for a spectacular event.”
The last winner of a V8 Supercar championship round at Symmons Plains was Mark Skaife in 1999.
Names such as Bob Jane, Allan Moffatt, Norm Beechey, Ian Geoghegan, Jim McKeown, John Harvey, Peter Brock, Colin Bond, Allan Grice, Jim Richards, Alan Jones, Larry Perkins, Glenn Seton, John Bowe and Mark Skaife have all raced at Symmons Plains.
For more information on the Symmons Plains round check out the event details.
To find out how to get there and where to stay call 1800 658 557.
Release Date: 06/05/2004
AVESCO
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