V8 Supercars and the Tasmanian Government have reached a deal that will ensure the V8s will compete at Symmons Plains for a further three years.
The future has been guaranteed by the Premier Lara Giddings and Minister for Tourism, Scott Bacon.
With the 2012 V8 Supercars calendar starting to take shape, Speedcafe.com understands that the Tassie race could be held within the first few rounds of the season.
For more on the 2012 calendar, CLICK HERE for Speecafe.com’s exclusive story yesterday.
Ms Giddings confirmed that the Government will invest $2.08 million to ensure the event continues in Tasmania until at least 2014.
“The V8s are a major fixture on Tasmania’s events calendar, and I’m thrilled that we’ll continue to see them race at Symmons Plains for the next three years,” Ms Giddings said.
“We’ll be getting an excellent return on our investment, with direct expenditure by visitors to Tasmania for the V8s expected to be between $11 million and $13 million.”
Giddings commended the Minister for Tourism for his work in ensuring the event continued in Tasmania.
“While there has been considerable speculation about the future of the V8s at Symmons Plains, the State Government has always been fully committed to retaining the event,” she said.
“Scott Bacon has been a strong advocate of the importance of this event to the Tasmanian economy, and has delivered a fantastic result for both V8 fans, and Northern businesses.
“While the previous agreement was to host the event until 2013, he has been successful in negotiating an extra year on the contract.”
Mr Bacon said the Tasmanian round of the V8s draws thousands of touring car fanatics from all over Tasmania, and interstate.
“The V8 Supercars at Symmons Plains is regarded as our biggest single-day sporting event, attracting up to 60,000 spectators, with around 3,500 of those travelling from interstate,” he said.
Acting V8 Supercars CEO Shane Howard said the organisation’s relationship with Tasmania has been decades long, and having the state in the national series would continue to be important in developing a truly national series.
“V8 Supercars is delighted with this new agreement that will ensure our large fan base here in Tassie will get their annual fix of the world’s best touring cars,” Howard said.
“It reinforces our intent to remain a truly national sport, supporting motorsport in Australia whilst also expanding our international footprint.
“The State Government has listened to the people to ensure the states’ largest annual event continues at Symmons Plains, injecting significant economic benefit and tourism profile to the region.
“All through our discussions with the Government and Motorsport Tasmania there was a strong will to make this happen for the state.
“We would like to thank Premier Lara Giddings and her Government for understanding just how important this event is to the people of Tasmania.”
The V8 Supercars will contest this year’s Symmons Plains event – the Falken Tasmania Challenge – on November 11-13.
