RACING RETURNS TO BASKERVILLE AFTER DEAL

BIG TIME motorsport will return to Hobart’s Baskerville Raceway as part of Australian Racing Group’s two-year extension to race in the state.

The AWC Race Tasmania at Symmons Plains Raceway, which has opened the national motorsport season the past two years, will do so again on February 24-26.

The event was last raced at Baskerville in 2021, but after a $1m from the state government, the track will join Symmons Plains in being part of the racing calendar in 2024 and 2025.

Tasmanian motorsport legend Marcos Ambrose said the announcement was a huge coup for the sport.

“We’ve got two great tracks down here which are well looked after. It’s just good to see them supported with national racing series,” he said.

“Whenever you have these national series come to town, it lifts the local scene.”

Tasmania Premier Jeremy Rockliff visited Symmons Plains on Thursday for the announcement, and embarked on a ‘hot lap’ with dual V8 Supercar Series champion Ambrose.

“These are events that put Tasmania on the map. We want to be known as the event capital of Australia,” Mr Rockliff said.

S5000s, Trans Ams and global touring cars will all be part of the Symmons Plains schedule.

Emerging drivers and mechanics looking to make their mark took part in the Garry Rogers Motorsport Valvoline Combine at Symmons Plains this week.

Launceston driver Charlie Parker, who won the Tasmanian Hyundai Excel Racing Series in 2021 and is the grandson of legendary Tasmanian driver Greg Crick, was part of the combine, as was Hobart mechanic Ryan West.

“It’s been an incredible experience and I’ve learned so much off the guys and the pro drivers who have taught me how to use the data,” Parker said.