Adelaide 500 to return from December 1 to 4 but only if Labor wins the state election
Labor’s vow to revive the Adelaide 500 has the backing of SA Supercars drivers and musicians – but the move could hinder its chances in the marginal Liberal-held electorate of Adelaide.
State Election
Don't miss out on the headlines from State Election. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Adelaide 500 motorsport event will return as the V8 Supercars season finale – if Labor wins the state election.
Considered the best street-circuit race in Australia and second only to Bathurst, the race was permanently axed in October 2020 and the infrastructure sold to save money.
The event had also become a political hot potato in the marginal seat of Adelaide, where noise and traffic problems had been annually criticised by residents.
After Supercars pencilled in the prized season finale for the December 1-4, 2022, weekend, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas announced on Sunday the return of V8s to the city as a March 19 election pledge.
Mr Malinauskas addressed hundreds of fans at a pro-race protest in Modbury, but he would not say how much taxpayer funding would be needed to secure the Supercars deal.
Also in question is taxpayer funding of new infrastructure, after auctions of grandstands and other facilities by the Marshall government.
“We know that the hosting of the event typically cost between $10m and $15m and that money, thankfully, is already sitting there in the budget,” Mr Malinauskas said.
He said large items of infrastructure had not yet been sold by the government, and a Sydney company that bought other items would lease them back to SA.
Supercars are notorious for driving a hard bargain with cities and state governments, leading Treasurer Rob Lucas to criticise what he said was a “blank-cheque” approach by Labor.
“Yesterday (there was) $80m supposedly for a swimming pool in the parklands, and today he doesn’t even put a number on his promise (for the Adelaide 500),’’ Mr Lucas said of the Labor leader’s plan.
“It is probably going to cost about $60m to $80m over four years.
“In some years pre-election, the cost went up to $19m to $20m, and they are also going to have to rebuild the infrastructure,” Mr Lucas said.
The announcement on Sunday has potential to hinder Labor’s chances in the marginal Liberal-held electorate of Adelaide at the state election.
The former Adelaide street circuit sits entirely within the electorate, which faced the most disruption of any seat during race road closures.
Mr Malinauskas refused to say why Labor’s Adelaide candidate Lucy Hood was not at the Adelaide 500 event in Modbury, despite the candidates for the northern-eastern seats of Newland and King attending.
“Lucy, like all our candidates, understands the venue of major events in our city,’’ Mr Malinauskas said.
Ms Hood later pledged her support for a return of the Adelaide 500.
In 2019, the Adelaide 500 injected $45.9m into South Australia’s economy, attracted 15,200 interstate and overseas visitors and supported 435 full-time jobs.
At its peak, crowds of up to 290,000 attended, but the last Covid-19-affected event in 2020 attracted 206,000.
Australian Hotels Association spokesman Ian Horne said the race should be given a long-term funding commitment.
“Certainly tourism, hospitality and accommodation operators will be desperate for events, any events, that put the last two years of shocking trade and a devastated workforce behind them,’’ he said.
Supercars chief executive Shane Howard said: “We have made no secret that we would love to be back racing on the streets of Adelaide.’’
Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said a new date for the race made sense. “If the 500 does return, then I am pleased to see it is scheduled for December, outside of an already busy festival season.”
DRIVERS AND MUSICIANS WANT THEIR RACE BACK
The promise of a return of the Adelaide 500 is being backed by three former SA Supercars drivers; Nick Percat, Scott Pye, and Todd Hazlewood, who have since left for NSW and Queensland.
Attending the Opposition’s Supercars launch, SA-born NSW driver Percat revealed details of a private discussion with Premier Steven Marshall about the state government’s axing of the race in 2020.
“I just asked him (Marshall) why (the event was axed) and asked him for some facts to support his numbers, revenue into the state and jobs into the state,’’ Percat said at the Supercars/ALP launch.
“They were met with some very ordinary responses.”
Percat’s team was sponsored by the previous Labor state government. He became angry at the 2018 race when asked how much SA taxpayers had funded his team and wouldn’t reveal the figure.
Supporters for the race’s revival include music stars Jimmy Barnes, Killing Heidi lead singer Ella Hooper, Vince Contarino of the Zep Boys and vocalist The Screaming Jets Dave Gleeson.
“Everyone’s starved of entertainment after the last couple of years, so it’d be great to see the Adelaide 500 back in the streets of my old hometown,’’ Barnes said.
“It’s not just about the car racing of course – the event always supported live music and featured lots of local bands.
“I’ve got great memories of playing to big crowds there both on my own and with Cold Chisel and I hope I get a chance to do it again before too long.”
Greens MLC Robert Simms said; “Rather than trying to revive the Adelaide 500, Labor should be looking at the city hosting an electric car racing event”.
Brad Jones Racing owner Brad Jones said the Adelaide 500 would again become the most significant event of the season.
“Supercars back on the streets of Adelaide again this year would be a clear highlight of the season,’’ he said.
Join the conversation
Adelaide entrepreneur tipped to replace Lib quitting politics
The founder of a high-end Adelaide store is expected to replace an outgoing state Liberal MP.
Read more
Editor’s view: From deepfake to deep disgrace
The David Speirs saga has bounced from claims of a deepfake to blaming a deep state villain. The reality is, it’s simply a deep disgrace.
Read more