30 November 2004
V8 Supercars Secured Until 2012
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Clare Martin MLA
Chief Minister
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A great day for V8 fans today with Chief Minister, Clare Martin, announcing a new deal which will secure the V8 Supercar Championship Series until 2012.
Ms Martin said the current deal with race organisers AVESCO - which was due to expire in 2007 - has been replaced with a new eight-year agreement taking the event until 2012.
“ This is great news for the thousands of Territorians who love their V8 Supercars,” she said.
“The race is an important part of our great Territory lifestyle and my Government is proud to be able to secure this event for Darwin .”
Ms Martin said the five-year extension will cost just under $5 million and that a recent Economic Analysis report, on the impact of the race to the Territory economy, values the net benefit at up to $11.4 million each year.
The inaugural Darwin round was first held in 1998 and each of the seven rounds held so far have attracted over 35,000 people. Next year’s race will be held from July 1 – 3 and is expected to attract more than 40,000 fans over three days.
“We are very excited to have done this deal because the V8’s are such an important event for Darwin and the benefits flow right through our local economy,” she said.
“It means the best drivers will continue to compete at Hidden Valley , providing great entertainment for locals and tourists, generating national and international media exposure.”
Today also saw the announcement of SKYCITY as the new premier naming sponsor.
“A big thanks to the event’s major new sponsor, SKYCITY - I am sure the SKYCITY V8 Supercar Championship will be a huge success thanks to your support,” she said.
“The Casino and many of its existing staff have been closely associated with previous V8 Supercar rounds through catering and hospitality and will now play a more prominent role.”
The SKYCITY Darwin round will be telecast throughout Australia on Network 10 and overseas to some 80 countries with a viewing audience in excess of 600 million.