World experts agree The Bend out performs even F1 tracks
It’s official – that’s no ordinary racetrack at Tailem Bend. It’s just received another prestigious award, this time beating out the world’s greatest F1 and MotoGP facilities.
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The world motorsport community has discovered what Adelaide race fans already knew – that something special has come to the tiny town of Tailem Bend.
The Bend Motorsport Park was overnight named the 2019 Motorsport Facility of the Year at the Professional Motorsport World Expo in Germany.
With last year’s winner being the renowned Donington Park in the UK, The Bend owner Dr Sam Shahin said Adelaide could be as justifiably chuffed as he was “This is by a country mile the biggest accolade we have received so far,’’ he said at The Bend.
“It is a phenomenal achievement, considering the last winners were in 2018 Donington Park in the UK, and before that the The Circuit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, the F1 facility Sochi Autodrom in Russia and the Audi Competence Center Motorsport in Germany.’’
The Bend also beat other high-profile contenders which made the final list this year; including the Canadian F1 circuit the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, and another prominent UK facility, Millbrook.
The 23 judges for the awards are journalists from the world’s most prominent industry media outlets, as well as mainstream publications such as The New York Times and the BBC.
The Bend has been designed to accommodate MotoGP races, the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, and Dr Shahin has not ruled out upgrading for an F1 round.
The win is also good timing for The Bend, which has three high profile events on throughout the remainder of November and December.
This weekend is the running of the Shannons Nationals, where enthusiasts can see the S5000 class for the first time at The Bend.
Dr Shahin is racing in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge this weekend, so a State Government representative travelled from London to Cologne to accept the award last night.
Dr Shahin said he was happy with a range of classic cars which had so far been put forward for another event, The Bend Classic to be held on 7-8th December.
Advertiser.com.au has published the 31 cars which have so far entered.
“This is an amazing list so far, including the F1 cars, and I think now that people have seen some of the cars that will be there then many more will open the roller door,’’ Dr Shahin said.
“Lets see what else we can drag out of the garages of SA.
“Dust the cobwebs off some of this magnificent machinery that we know sits in Adelaide garages for most of the year.”