Wakefield Park is planning to lobby government for funding to complete a raft of circuit upgrades which could include a multi-million dollar circuit extension.
The Goulburn circuit, opened in 1994, has set its sights on improving the venue to attract more events at its 2.2km track.
To achieve this goal circuit management aims to revamp the facility to the tune of $4 million dollars, which could include a 1km track extension, a complete resurface, upgrades to pit buildings, improved spectator viewing areas and a skid pan for driver training.
While plans are still in their infancy, the circuit has commissioned an economic impact study for the facility to provide information to back up its proposals for government funding.
The report confirmed that Wakefield Park attracts 15,000 event entrants and 17,000 spectators annually, while generating $20 million into the local economy.
Owned by the Benalla Auto Club (BAC), which also runs Winton, CEO Chris Lewis-Williams hopes the latest report will boost the circuit’s chances of securing funding.
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He believes the possibility of extending the circuit to 3.2km will help attract more national events to the venue.
Wakefield Park currently hosts the Shannons Nationals and the Australian Superbike Championship among its calendar of events.
“It is about now having the conversations (with government regarding funding),” Lewis-Williams told Speedcafe.com.
“We haven’t finalised the plans on exactly on where we want to land with the venue.
“We are waiting for plans from designers and engineers but you need the suite of documents to be able to have the conversations.
“At 2.2km we are on the edge of getting national events, we are not quite there.
“We are wondering if it is possible to do like Winton did and bolt on another 1km section to make it 3.2km.
“Then we would be attractive as an alternative for some other events, but that would take a $2-$2.5 million upgrade to 3.5-$4 million.
“We are working with some consultants and some engineers to look at a whole range of options for the venue and see how the landscape pans out.”
A possible circuit extension could also provide the facility the option of running two events concurrently on seperate track layouts.
“The facilities that do it really well are the guys that have alternative circuits like Sydney Motorsport Park with their distinct circuits. That is the facility that is showing the most versatility,” he added.
“The Bend Motorsport Park (currently under construction in South Australia) has followed that with their engineering which allows it to run two club based events on the same day too.”
Wakefield Park will host the final round of the Shannons Nationals from November 18-19.
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