Supercars still coming
TOWNSVILLE FIGHTS FOR SUPERCARS
TOWNSVILLE will host the Supercars this season after the organisation committed itself to the region.
The annual Townsville 400 will be pushed back from its planned June 26-28 date with key stakeholders locked in negotiations on a new date until late last night.
But delays in negotiations have not deterred Supercars from promising to push forward with the event.
TOWNSVILLE will host the Supercars this season after the organisation committed itself to the region.
The annual Townsville 400 will be pushed back from its planned June 26-28 date with key stakeholders locked in negotiations on a new date until late last night.
But delays in negotiations have not deterred Supercars from promising to push forward with it.
There is still hope among key stakeholders that a later date will allow for crowds to attend the track at Reid Park, but it will be conducted behind closed doors if need be.
HIGH-OCTANE racing will come to Townsville in 2020 after Supercars committed to the region.
The organisation is determined to bring the annual Townsville 400 event to North Queensland this year but have yet to settle on a revised date.
The event has been delayed from its original June 26-27 date due to the coronavirus pandemic, with key stakeholders ders locked in meetings with Supercars bosses yesterday to settle on a calendar.
Supercars hope to run the Townsville 400 with spectators, but that will be determined by the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. They will run the event as TV broadcast only if necessary.
A Supercars spokesman told the Townsville Bulletin yesterday they were determined to deliver the event for North Queensland.
An announcement on the revised S Supercars calendar is expected in the coming days.
“The intention is to return to Townsville as part of the revised calendar. Details regarding the exact date and further information for the event will be released in the coming days,” he said.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill has been a big fighter for the Supercars event, which injected $36 million into the local economy last year.
“I definitely want the Townsville 400 to be held again this year and council is working with V8 Supercars organisers to make that happen as soon as it is safe to do so,” Cr Hill said.
“The Townsville 400 is a fantastic event, not only for motorsport fans but for the city generally.
“It injects around $36 million into the local economy each year and with many local businesses hurting because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, a similar economic boost again this year would be very welcome.
“Council’s preference would be to hold the event on a date that would allow the public to attend and we have made organisers aware of this.”
It is understood there is movement to host future iterations of the event at a motorsport facility with the planned Driveit NQ facility at Woodstock on the agenda.
That would not happen until future years when the facility is fully operational.
Cr Hill said the council was a strong supporter of Driveit
NQ and hoped it could attract additional funding to complete its racetrack.
“Council has had discussions with V8 Supercars about potentially moving the Townsville 400 to a dedicated racetrack at some point in the future,” she said.
“However any decision on this will be made by V8 Supercars after the track is built and provided it fits with Supercars requirements. We are strongly committed to keeping the event in Townsville.”