Australian Grand Prix boss Andrew Westacott to step down

Australian Grand Prix chief executive Andrew Westacott will step down from the role next year after Victoria secured the rights to the race for another two years.

Westacott, who has been at the helm since 2011, said the timing was right for him and “for the corporation as well”. He will finish as Australia’s GP chief – its longest serving CEO – at the end of the financial year.

Australian Grand Prix CEO Andrew Westacott will step down after 12 years.Credit: Getty Images

“I just love delivering major events, I love doing things for the state of Victoria, I love working with a great team,” Westacott told the Today program on Channel Nine.

“The timing was right for me and the timing is right for the corporation as well.”

Australian Grand Prix Corporation will make an announcement on the process to find Westacott’s successor “in due course”.

Victoria has hosted the Formula 1 grand prix for 25 years – since 1996 – after nabbing it from Adelaide. The race will now remain in Melbourne until 2037.

The Grand Prix had record attendance this year; an estimated crowd of 419,144 people over four days. Tickets sold out for next year’s event within hours of their release. It’s expected there will be a bumper crowd of up to 130,000 on for the final day.

Westacott said it had been a source of “immense pride” for him to work with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, which is responsible for both the F1 race at Albert Park and the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island.

“The contrasting years between the start of COVID in 2020 and the way in which we opened Melbourne to the sporting world in 2022 both produced massive memories that I’ll remember forever,” he said.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos congratulated Westacott on leading the two international events, recognising the economic impact they’d had on the state.

Corporation chairman Paul Little said Westacott had been at the helm during a transformative period. He thanked Westacott for his contribution to motorsport and tourism in Victoria.

“He leaves AGPC positioned for continued global success and I wish him all the very best in his future endeavours,” Little said.

The chance to extend Victoria’s contract came from a scheduling clash with Ramadan, a holy month of fasting for people of Islamic faith, meaning the owner of F1 had to revise their 2024 season fixture.

The original 10-year deal between the Andrews government and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation was announced in June.

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