A1GP WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT JOINS V8s AND SIGNS ON FOR GOLD COAST 300

The deal securing the future of the Gold Coast 300 motor race event has been concluded, Sport Minister Judy Spence said today

“The event organisers have signed a new five-year agreement with A1GP World Cup of Motorsport,” Ms Spence said.

“With the signing of this agreement, the tradition of world class open-wheel motor racing alongside homegrown V8 Supercars on the streets of Surfers Paradise is confirmed to continue.

“A1GP motor racing series will join the Gold Coast 300 as a co-headline act alongside the Australian V8 Supercar Series from 2009.”

The five year arrangement sees the A1GP series at the Gold Coast to 2013, in line with arrangements already in place with the Queensland Government and the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

A1GP heads to Queensland and replaces the Indy Car Series as the open-wheel arm of the event, which will be officially renamed following a public competition conducted over the coming week.

"Recently, we announced in-principle agreement that the A1GP motor racing series would join the Gold Coast event in place of the Indy cars," Ms Spence said

"Those arrangements have now progressed to a finalised and signed contract."

Gold Coast 300 General Manager Greg Hooton said he was excited by the announcement, as would be many thousands of motor racing fans around Australia.

"This is really something to look forward to - the A1GP cars and the V8s racing on the streets of Surfers Paradise, bringing their World Cup of Motorsport to the Gold Coast and Australia.

"Our event is Australia's premier motor sport event with four days and four nights of on and off track entertainment, and it is here to stay".

A1GP will be the first truly international category of open-wheel racing to head to the Gold Coast with nations pitted against each other.

In 2009, the Gold Coast 300 will hit the streets of Surfers Paradise over October 22-25.

A1GP World Cup of Motorsport chairman Tony Teixeira said: "We wanted to go back to Australia and this is the ideal venue for our series.”

"A lot of people have worked hard on putting this deal together and in particular, Judy Spence, and now it has come to fruition it is very exciting.

"I am aware we are being given a perfect opportunity to showcase our series to the Australian fans, who have been great supporters of both the series and their own team.

"Australia has a rich motor sport heritage and I know our TV fans worldwide will be delighted to have this spectacular race on our calendar.

"Both the Government and IMG have offered us every courtesy in putting this together, and I think we must have set a record in doing such an important deal in such a short space of time."

Tony Cochrane, Chairman of V8 Supercars said: "We are delighted to finalise the new five-year arrangement at what has been one of our signature events.

“Our new race format, featuring a 200km race on Saturday and Sunday with both tyre and fuel pit stops, will make for an absolute must see on the streets of Surfers Paradise.

“V8 Supercars would particularly like to thank the Queensland Government, and in particular Minister Spence and the promoter - the Gold Coast Motor Events Company - for their tremendous work in bringing this together.

"Once again, V8 Supercars are delighted to bring the TV production and our host broadcaster, the Seven Network, to this iconic Australian motor sport event.”

Media Contact: 3239 6218