CAR RACING GROUP SEEKS PARCEL OF LAND TO LEASE, BUILD RACETRACK
MINISTER FOR LANDS AND MINERAL RESOURCES FILIMONI VOSAROGO CONFIRMED THAT DIRECTOR LANDS WAS LOOKING AT SUITABLE LAND BETWEEN NAVUA AND LAUTOKA.
The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources will identify a parcel of land in Viti Levu for the Fiji Motorsports Association to build its racetrack.
This is two years after its lease agreement with landowners to use the Nanuku Airstrip in Pacific Harbour expired.
Since then, the car racing community has been without a proper track to hold its events.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo confirmed that director lands was looking at suitable land between Navua and Lautoka. It’s a positive development for Fiji Motorsports Association president Raizal
Hannif, who first sought support from the previous government administration.
He said the lease agreement with landowners in Pacific Harbour was not renewed to continue using the site as a venue for car racing activities. Mr Hannif said landowners couldn’t accommodate them anymore due to airplane traffic at the site.
“We spoke to the Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo, and the Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica, but nothing has come forward since,” he said.
“I feel Government should help us with this initiative.
“They’ve supported and provided others with land to host sporting events, but Fiji Motorsports has been left out for so many years.”
The association, previously known as Fiji Car Club, had asked the Government to allocate a piece of land, at least 100 acres anywhere in Viti Levu to jump-start the project.
Mr Hannif said the association would then finance the construction of a onekilometre-long, tar-sealed racetrack worth $1.1million through sponsorship.
Racing on public roads
He also suggested that being without a proper racetrack had forced some members to race on public roads, putting themselves and other road users at risk.
Videos circulated recently on social media showed cars racing illegally on the roads.
“We have spoken to them,” he said. “The only thing we can do is advise them to refrain from racing on the public roads.”
The Land Transport Authority of Fiji (LTA) condemned the illegal and irresponsible car racing activities on public roads in a statement yesterday.
LTA acting chief executive officer Irimaia Rokosawa said the authority’s enforcement team was cracking down on such activities through combined operations with the Fiji Police Force, along Queen Elizabeth Drive in Nasese and other hot spot areas where car racing had been reported. “The consequences of these actions can be catastrophic, leading to severe injuries, loss of lives, and extensive damage to property,” he said. “The authority urges those involved in such activities to immediately cease their reckless driving behaviour.”
He said every driver had a responsibility to follow traffic laws and regulations.