GC600: Gold Coast motorsport identity backs night racing
A Gold Coast identity is backing a big change to the GC600, saying it will build on recent momentum. FIND OUT ABOUT THE DETAILS
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A GOLD Coast motorsport identity is backing a night time GC600, saying it will build on momentum of Surfers Paradise hosting the Supercars season finale.
The Surfers Paradise street race was handed December 3 to 5 dates after the South Australian government axed the Adelaide 500, which was meant to host the series finale.
Brett Murray described the move as a “free kick” for the Gold Coast in a passionate column on his Speedcafe motorsport news site and said the end-of-season timing was just the foundation on which something great can be rebuilt.
“There is now every opportunity for key stakeholders to get together and come up with a plan that brings back the festival element to what was once regarded as one of the world’s great events – an event once studied and used as a yardstick for major new projects around the globe,” he said.
“The first initiative should be to go back to the original plans for this year’s race before COVID-19 hit and make it a night race and give it a real point of difference.
“The funding is there because it was originally signed off through parliament so here is the chance for Queensland to show it is brave enough to be proactive in a tough environment. If the concept does not work, then revert back to a daytime event in 2022, but give it a shot.”
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The idea for the GC600 to be held under lights was brought to the table by then Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones who announced in August last year the State Government had given the green light for Supercars to begin discussions with the council, local businesses and residents about staging future races under floodlights.
She said hosting it under lights could make it one of the standout motorsport races on the planet.
It was suggested at the time that the first Surfers Paradise street race under lights could be as early as 2020, which was cancelled in May this year due to COVID-19.
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said he had heard concerns from locals about the race being held under lights and questioned the decision for Surfers Paradise to host the finale of the event arguing in Saturday’s Bulletin it was the wrong time of year.
“Local residents of Main Beach and Paradise Waters have increasingly expressed concerns to me as their local MP over many years about the changes to the race,” he wrote.
“They’re concerned about the prospect of the circuit being lit up, which was promised by former Labor Minister Kate Jones.
“While the 2020 race was cancelled due to COVID, it’s unbelievable that the 2021 race will be held from December 3-5.
“It’s the wrong time of year for us to host it.”
Supercars did not respond to requests for comment.
‘Don’t deserve the dregs’: Coast MP’s Supercar concerns
John-Paul Langbroek, Member for Surfers Paradise
There’s no better place to host a world class motorsport event in Australia than the Gold Coast.
The buzzing atmosphere created by diehard fans from across the country.
The spectacular parties. The perfect weather.
And from a broadcast perspective, the breathtaking views of the city meeting the surf beamed into millions of living rooms all over the world.
We have a proud history of hosting motorsports.
GOLD COAST 600: MACINTOSH ISLAND TO HOST 2021 SUPERCARS GRAND FINALE
From 1990 to 2010 Indy car was an event that grew in stature each year.
It attracted top quality drivers such as Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell, Dario Franchetti, Emerson Fittipaldi, and Toowoomba born Indianapolis champion Will Power.
Since 2010, V8s have replaced the open wheelers and Supercars has enhanced the on-track action with off-track concerts.
The Gold Coast has welcomed the continuation of the events because we are an events city.
Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) says of all the major events in Queensland, Supercars brings the best return on investment, pouring millions of dollars into the local economy.
The State Government contributes millions of dollars each year and there is also a sizeable contribution from City of Gold Coast.
Local residents of Main Beach and Paradise Waters have increasingly expressed concerns to me as their local MP over many years about the changes to the race
They’re concerned about the prospect of the circuit being lit up, which was promised by former Labor Minister Kate Jones.
While the 2020 race was cancelled due to COVID, it’s unbelievable that the 2021 race will be held from December 3-5.
It’s the wrong time of year for us to host it.
Business operators are gearing up for the holiday rush, kids are celebrating the end of school, holiday makers fill up hotel apartments across the city just three weeks before Christmas.
Road closures, detours, grandstand construction and the searing summer heat will also cause frustrations for locals.
We need a more suitable time to gain the maximum economic benefits for our city.
This is an opportunity lost.
The Labor Government should have fought harder for the Gold Coast. We don’t deserve the dregs.
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Given that the Labor State Government contributes so much money, it begs the question as to what pressure they put on organisers to provide a more suitable date for tourism and accommodation providers.
Once again, the lack of vision from Labor is disturbing.
The Gold Coast has felt as though it has been abandoned by the Palaszczuk Government throughout 2020, with our borders closed for 7 months, business being down up to 95 per cent in some cases, and 1 in 13 jobs being lost in Surfers Paradise since March.
The last thing we need is to feel that this will continue with one of our iconic events in 2021.
It makes absolutely no sense for us to be handed the last race on the Supercars calendar.
We are a city that deserves the prime time attention.
Instead of taking up the fight, Labor has let the Gold Coast become an afterthought.
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