The city’s famous F1 circuit will be the home of V8 motorsport into the future after a commitment from the State Government

Residents groups and some MPs have opposed the four-day Adelaide 500 being held in the city’s east, but the State Government has committed to keeping it here for the foreseeable future.

V8 Driver Nick Percat at the Superloop Adelaide 500 launch last year. Picture: Sarah Reed

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New life has been injected into Adelaide’s famed Formula One street circuit with the State Government committing to future V8 Supercars races at the track.

It comes as ticket sales for this month’s event are tipped to break all-time records.

Minister for Tourism David Ridgway backed the event’s current circuit despite calls to move the Superloop Adelaide 500.

“The Government has no plans to change the existing arrangements beyond 2021,” he told The Advertiser.

“The 2018 event attracted more than 273,500 people and generated nearly $42 million for the economy.”

The Opposition on Wednesday revealed background negotiations with residents about moving the V8 race to the Shahin family’s new $160 million motorsport park near Tailem Bend, which hosted its own V8 Supercars event last August.

The V8 Supercars event at The Bend Motorsport Park in August 2018.

The State Government had only committed to the street circuit until 2021, leaving the door open to residents groups and Liberal Party MPs who also oppose the four-day event being held in the city’s east.

Freedom of Information documents released to Opposition tourism spokeswoman Zoe Bettison revealed residents began lobbying the State Government to move the race since the March election.

“I have no doubt David (Ridgway) supports the event in Adelaide, but many in the Liberal Party do not and will continue to oppose it,” she said.

Southeast City Residents Association chair John Underwood confirmed the group had lobbied for Tailem Bend as an alternative for the “disruptive” race following the success of the state’s second V8 race weekend there last August.

Residents have lobbied the State Government to move the race from the CBD to Tailem Bend.

“We believe this should happen, and lots of people I speak to including residents support this,’’ he told The Advertiser.

“We hear rumours and we hear there is growing support for this idea.’’

Other residents groups; the Adelaide Park Lands Preservation Association, North Adelaide Society and South West City Community Association – although not directly involved in the lobbying – told The Advertiser the race would not be missed if it was moved.

The Liberal and Labor parties have supported the V8 race throughout its history, but some MPs have opposed the location.

Meanwhile, organisers have trumpeted the early ticket-sales of this year’s V8 event, which will be held at the Victoria Park based circuit from February 28 to March 3.

Single general admission tickets for Sunday have already sold out.

The debut of the Ford Mustang race, replacing the traditional Aussie-built Falcon, is thought to have increased sales along with the drawcard V8 Supercars being on track all four days for the first time.

“The highly anticipated Supercars season-opener and the racing return of the Ford Mustang, combined with the exciting concert line-up, will see impressive crowds this year,” general manager Alistair MacDonald said.