Championship challenge on Surfers' streets?
18/2/2002 14:09 (V8 Wire - Jason Whittaker) -
The V8 Supercars will compete for championship points for the first time at this year’s Gold Coast Indy carnival, it was reported today.
Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper reports that race promoters IMG have finalised a long-term deal with the category for a full round of the championship series to be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise, in conjunction with the Australian leg of the CART World Series.
V8 governing body AVESCO last year terminated its contract with the event due to alleged mistreatment by race organisers and sub-standard pit facilities.
Ongoing negotiations centred on improvements to the V8 Supercar paddock facilities, and IMG’s desire to have the event as a round of the championship. Both parties now appear to be in agreement on both issues.
While IMG refused to confirm the deal today, Queensland Premier Peter Beattie is expected to announce the V8 Supercars’ readmittance to the Gold Coast program on Wednesday.
The October meeting, two weeks after the V8 Supercar 1000 at Bathurst, will become the sport’s newest showcase championship event. It will see a 13-round series calendar, the same number as last season after Melbourne’s Calder Park Raceway was dumped from the championship.
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