Racing

WA Lose Another Racing Event

Monday 8th February 2010

Author: LMSC

Photographer:

They threatened it was a possibility, and now it appears it has become reality with the V8 Supercars officially scrubbing Perth off their calender for season 2010 after negotiations between them, the state government and Barbagallo Raceway failed to result in a positive outcome.

It's another massive blow for the WA sporting landscape, with the decision even more offensive with the city of Ipswich, a town 40km from Brisbane and with a population of 160,000, taking Perth's place.

The governing body of one of the world's best touring car events had been banging heads with the Sporting Car Club of WA, the lease holders of Barbagallo Raceway, and the state government over the dilapidated facilities at the northern raceway venue.

Labeling the facilities "third world", V8SA chief Shane Howard said breakdowns in negotiations between the parties forced the decision to drop Perth from this year's championship, with problems surrounding occupational health and safety issues were the major concern.

"It is great news that we have been able to secure the City of Ipswich 300 but disappointing we have been unable to find a workable solution to the similar issues we have at Barbagallo Raceway,'' Howard said.

"We are extremely disappointed for all of our fans in WA.

"As a group we have worked overtime in trying to get this third world facility re-vamped so that both the paddock and the pit lane meet basic OH and S legislation.''

Late last year, the Premier Colin Barnett and sports minister Terry Waldron announced they would fund only $5 million of a required $50 million upgrade of the venue, seeking assurances the sport would stay in Western Australia with a promise of further upgrades in the future.

But the prompting the Chairman of the V8 Supercars Tony Cochrane to declared 2009 would likely be the last V8 event at Barbagallo, with Cochrane incensed with the government's refusal to give a definitive time line to make the venue safety compliant.

Shane Howard said the sport had done everything in its power to get a good outcome, but said despite their efforts, the additional parties didn't appear willing to back their words with actions.

"Despite a reduced sanction fee of around 25 per cent of the actual cost for us to race in Perth, committing to a long-term five-year deal and offering the services of Mark Skaife and our engineers to design the new circuit at our cost we still get a lip service response," he said.

"The situation is best summed up by a recent seven-page letter and subsequent letters that have received just a one paragraph response at best."

The race was one of the largest sporting events in the state attracting up to 60,000 people over the three day weekend. It's a situation that bears a strikingresemblance to the state's loss of Rally Australia, when the then Gallop government opted to cancel its support and funding.