Scott Pruett, Among Others, in an Aussie V8 Supercar?
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.”
(Rut…row, looks like the whole “no more naked bobbies on the beach” thing maybe taking hold. Alas, the Halfvast Staff™ of Full Throttle are weeping silently. But hey, the place is still the sex shop capital of Australia that must be worth something right?)
The Bligh Government, under pressure from two damning reports into last year’s failed GP to be released today, has decided to stop chasing risky minor international racing series (boldface mine) and will instead put its faith in the rapidly expanding home-grown race to rebrand and rebirth the 19-year-old event.
“Minor international series?” Is that anyway to treat a fellow race promoter?
Oops, sorry I guess it is, but really, why let a little “gross mismanagement” get between friends?
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.
Mr Cochrane confirmed that former Gold Coast winner Scott Pruett (USA), placegetter Alex Tagliani (Canada), reigning Australian Le Mans 24 Hour winner David Brabham, former Formula 1 and Champ Car stars Mark Blundell (England) and Christian Fittipaldi (Brazil) have already signed as co-drivers.
The complete race format and all 17 co-drivers will be announced at the event launch in April.
“There is no question that this event will have everything for everybody, including a massive international component in our visiting drivers. Their presence alone will spark massive interest around the world and compliments new world-wide television deals we are announcing next Wednesday at our season launch.”
The event, to be promoted by V8 Supercar Events, will be part of the inaugural V8 Grand Slam which could offer up to $2.5 million in prize money for a driver that wins the Gold Coast event, Clipsal 500 in Adelaide, Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 and the Sydney Telstra 500 in Sydney in the same year.
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Hmmm, I’m not sure why they have gone to all the effort of making it a enduro with international drivers. If it were run as a round of the V8 series, 2 races each day, or as a enduro with the usual drivers, then it would still be a sell out.
A very large part of the crowd that went to the Indy 300 were V8 fans who were entertained by the open wheelers….but would have turned up if only the V8 were running. The Gold Coast is a huge population centre & the capital, Brisbane, is less than a hour up the freeway, a stand alone V8 event would bring in huge numbers anyway.
It all seems like a novelty, because with the exception of Brabham, none of the internationals listed would get a co-drive at the jewel in the crown Bathurst 1000. The idea of having one-race a-year-fly-ins seems a bit gimmicky.
Anyway, lets see how it goes.
“Hmmm, I’m not sure why they have gone to all the effort of making it a enduro with international drivers.”
Me, is thinkin’ the same thing, especially after seeing in an Adelaide paper the so called internationals are running a separate event on Saturday and not mixed in with the regulars.
I fail to see the point.
[...] newly named Gold Coast “SuperCarnivale“ will be a three-day event from October 22-24, while the Symmons Plains round in Tasmania has [...]