Premier’s Indy bid given orange light
PREMIER Annastacia Palaszczuk will meet IndyCars bosses within weeks in a bid to bring it back to Surfers Paradise – as motorsport experts question the cost and hurdles.
Ms Palaszczuk revealed IndyCars CEO Mark Miles has formally replied to her written request for a meeting and agreed to come to the Gold Coast by the end of November.
She has launched an ambitious bid to return the exciting American open wheelers to Surfers by 2020, the Bulletin revealed yesterday.
IndyCars previously raced on the Gold Coast from the early 1990s before finishing in 2008.
“I’m keen, Indy is keen,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “All I need to know is whether the Gold Coast wants its Indy back.”
Small business owners are thrilled at the prospect, saying Indy and its international crowd were great for turnover.
Ms Palaszczuk said starting talks on an IndyCars return was “no reflection on the V8s”.
“This isn’t an either or. I’m not stopping just because we already have one great race. We have the Magic Millions, we have the V8s – why not Indy as well.”
The annual GC600 Supercars race held just over a week ago drew almost 200,000 people across three days and pumps tens of millions into the economy.
It is understood State Government and its entities pump about $4 million annually into supporting the GC600, which results in a $50 million economic injection into the Coast.
Sources have said bringing back IndyCars – requiring an extended track and freight costs from the US – would involve an investment in the vicinity of tens of millions.
Supercars Australia’s deal with State Government for the GC600 expires after next year’s event and calls are mounting to reinvigorate it.
Asked if there was enough room and demand for both the GC600 and a revived IndyCars race, Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said Supercars had a long partnership with State Government and the GC600 delivered strong growth, particularly in the past three years.
“We are in negotiations to continue the event well beyond 2019, because it delivers an extremely positive return on investment for the Gold Coast and the state,” he said.
“This was acknowledged when the Minister attended the event last week, sharing our vision for the future.”
Coast motorsport promoter Brett Murray, who has been heavily involved in both Indy and Supercars, said: “No one would like to see IndyCars back more than me but if you want to write a big cheque and overcome the hurdles, it’s a big ask.”
Mr Murray said hurdles included freight costs and extending the street track for IndyCars which couldn’t go further into Surfers as it would impact the light rail.
“But if they want to write a cheque anything is possible. The positive thing is Palaszczuk is looking at the Gold Coast and taking an interest.”
Mayor Tom Tate said he’d spoken to the Premier and supported her enthusiasm for Indycars, but added: “It is too early to consider funding and I would be liaising with my councillor colleagues first.”