EVENT: V8s to return to the Gold Coast!

Gold Coast SuperCarnivale

October 2010

A new era of motor racing will begin on the Gold Coast this October, Premier Anna Bligh announced today. Ms Bligh said the event will feature three days of V8 races, the likes of which have never been seen in Australia before.

"This marks a fresh start for this iconic Gold Coast event in its 20th year," Ms Bligh said. "We were all disappointed when the A1GP let Queensland down ahead of last year's event. But the V8s and the Aussie Legends put on a terrific show and confirmed their incredible pulling power. The program they have put forward for 2010 will take the event to a whole new level. Not only will we have Australia's best V8 drivers come to the Gold Coast to compete as part of their annual series, top international drivers will also join the Australians on the track, and will compete in a stand-alone international drivers race on the Friday as well.

This year's event will also be much more than a car race, with the new program including night time family entertainment along the Broadwater Parklands, and a wider range of off-track activities each day to attract an even bigger audience. Ms Bligh said under the deal V8 Supercars will take over as event promoter for the next four years. Additionally, after this year's event, a task force with input from the Gold Coast City Council, will consider whether a separate international category could participate in the future.

"We are determined to see this event go from strength to strength, so it can continue to inject millions of dollars into our State's economy for years to come," the Premier said.

This from V8 Supercars Australia: "In a massive coup for the Gold Coast, the biggest annual event in Queensland will be entirely re-branded and transformed into a massive ‘Gold Coast SuperCarnivale’ weekend. The Queensland Government and V8 Supercars Australia jointly announced that the Gold Coast fixture will be wholly re-invigorated in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the event this October.

The emphasis will be on extremely affordable ticketing and be all-inclusive of entertainment and live concerts. The world class V8 Supercars Australia events team headed up by Gold Coaster, Shane Howard, will take charge of the Gold Coast SuperCarnivale. An additional focus will be on attracting interstate and international visitors back to the event.

“I would argue that no single event in Australian history has undergone the dramatic changes that are planned for this year’s SuperCarnivale on the Gold Coast,” V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said. “Aside from a massive reduction to the size of the site it is also our absolute goal to transform it into a family style event.”

For the first time in the history of V8 Supercars, the event will become the third endurance race on the calendar alongside the prestigious L&H 500 at Phillip Island and Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. It will be raced over 600kms, 300kms each day, with each V8 Supercar team including an international co-driver.

“In total we will have 17 international drivers, one for each V8 Supercar team, from around 14 different countries, driving for our teams, alongside our drivers across a 600km endurance weekend,” Mr Cochrane said.

Key Facts about SuperCarnivale:

• The event will be conducted over three days from Friday to Sunday, including an International Drivers race on Friday, and a 600km endurance race run in two 300km phases over Saturday and Sunday.
• 17 international drivers from around 14 countries will drive for the 17 V8 Supercar teams.
• The footprint of the circuit will be reduced from the current 4.49 km to 2.96km, thus freeing up approximately 40% of the site for business and residents.
• The total build/dismantle time of the new circuit will be reduced by 5 weeks, from 14 weeks to 9 weeks.
• Ticket prices will be reduced, and will also include nightly entertainment from 5:30pm-9:30pm at the revamped Broadwater Parklands.

You can read more about the event on the V8 Supercars Website Here