Clipsal 500 confirms Stadium Super Trucks

Clipsal 500 organisers have confirmed that Robby Gordon’s Stadium Super Trucks Series will join its support bill for 2015.

As previously reported by Speedcafe.com, the left-field addition comes as the event attempts to add a fresh, international flavour to its undercard.

The confirmation comes just a week after the announcement that the Asia Ferrari Challenge has also been added to the schedule.

There however remains no formal word on local supports, with the Dunlop Series appearing in danger of missing the meeting as a result of the new classes.

Adelaide will mark the first appearance for the SST Series outside of North America.

The category has this year appeared at multiple IndyCar Series street races, as well as at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, for the X Games.

The 600bhp trucks, which are of control specification and prepared from a single workshop in Charlotte, North Carolina, race around circuits fitted with temporary jumps.

Former NASCAR and IndyCar star Gordon has flown to Adelaide for today’s announcement, featuring a demonstration with one of the trucks at the parklands circuit.

“The growth of the Stadium Super Trucks Series has been incredible and for us to take our Series outside North America for the first time is a really big deal so we were very selective with which event we chose,” he said.

“The Clipsal 500 is one of the biggest and best entertainment events in Australia so for us it was a perfect fit.

“Our series has a big following in the States, and with up to 15 high powered off-road trucks racing side by side hitting speeds of 240km, launching five metres into the air and 40 metres down the track, it’s definitely going to blow the minds of Australian fans.”

Clipsal 500 CEO Mark Warren said that the introduction of the SST category comes amid continual market research into what is desired by patrons.

“We introduced Utes to the motor racing scene back in 2001, which regularly rates as the second most popular category for Clipsal 500 fans in post-event polling,” said Warren.

“Stadium Super Trucks was a huge hit at the X-Games, and we expect they’ll be one of the most exciting categories to race around Adelaide’s iconic street circuit in 2015.”

VIDEO: Gordon demonstrating an SST in the United States