REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Thursday, February 4, 2010

THE V8 Supercars were given two years to turn themselves and the Gold Coast’s annual motor racing festival into an international attraction that would rebuild the event’s damaged reputation.

The new three-day ‘Supercarnivale’, to be held for the first time in October 2010, was to feature the V8 Supercars in a 600km competition over two days, international music acts each night and a radical new endurance race using worldrenowned drivers. The Bligh Government, under pressure from two damning reports into 2009’s failed Super GP, decided to stop chasing risky minor international racing series and instead put its faith in the rapidly expanding homegrown race to rebrand and rebirth the 19-year-old event.

The Gold Coast-based V8 Supercars organisation had already begun work on a campaign to take their sport to a worldwide audience, with three races to be held overseas.

A huge international music star was recruited to become the sport’s ambassador for the next three years.

The V8-only race saw the track size slashed by almost half, with troublesome areas near Surfers Paradise excised.

The shorter track also took less time to set up and take down, while reducing the carnival from a four-day to three-day event appeased residents. Ticket prices were slashed by at least 25 per cent from $145.

The new Broadwater Park would be transformed each night into an entertainment precinct with major concerts featuring Australian and international acts.