GOLD COAST RACE NOW SUPERGP

Australia’s number one motorsport event held on the streets of Surfers Paradise on Queensland’s Gold Coast each October, will now be known as the SuperGP.

Sport Minister, Judy Spence, officially announced the new name, logo and website in Brisbane today for the event which will be one of the highlights of Queensland’s 150^th birthday celebrations.

“2009 is a significant turning point in both the history of Queensland and for this fantastic event and the new SuperGP name is a combination of both the V8 SuperCars and A1GP.

“The Queensland Government continues to support this iconic event and we know that not only is the SuperGP a fantastic spectacle of the World’s best drivers whether they are A1GP or V8SuperCars, it also attracts crowds of 300,000 people each year and provides a $60 million boost to the State’s economy.

“We’re proud of the fact the SuperGP also generates just over 550 casual full-time job equivalents, over 173,000 visitor nights, for an economic impact for Queensland and the Gold Coast of $60 Million,” Ms Spence said.

Formerly known as the Gold Coast Indy 300, when its international component involved IndyCars from the US, the introduction of A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Powered by Ferrari, alongside Australia’s homegrown V8 Supercar Championship Series encouraged the name change.

This year’s SuperGP from October 22-25 will be one of the first rounds of the 2009/10 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport and round 11 of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.

The event is produced through a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG.

“The SuperGP will provide fans with the best of both worlds with 22 countries racing for glory in the A1GP event, while V8 Supercar teams battle it out in an event which has traditionally had a huge influence on their Championship outcome.

“This year’s event will offer so many things that are fresh and we look forward to a new-look off-track calendar of events being rolled out over the coming months,” Ms Spence said.

Tickets for this year’s event will officially go on sale on March 23 through Ticketek on 1300 303 103 and through the event’s new website www.SuperGP.com.

Today’s announcement was also attended by V8 Supercars CEO Cameron Levick, Australian A1GP team boss and 1980 F1 world champion Alan Jones, reigning V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup and A1 Team Australia driver John Martin.

SuperGP Chairman, Terry Mackenroth, said the name was a fitting one for the event, one of the crown jewels of world motorsport.

“Heading into our 19^th year, the Gold Coast event is regarded as one of the premier motorsport events in the world and with the inclusion of A1GP cars for the first time alongside our own homegrown V8 Supercars, we’re exceptionally excited about presenting another world class street race” said Mackenroth.

“This event will have an international flavour more than at any other time in its history and we want to take advantage of that and create an experience which will be hard to forget.”

SuperGP General Manager, Greg Hooton, said that the new-look of the event had provided enormous interest from fans and the corporate sector.

“I think the event is going to offer so much more than it ever has before as we really head into a new era,” said Hooton.

“It is no secret that the world is in tough economic times, but we are having positive negotiations with corporate partners at all levels, including naming rights, and we are confident of being able to continually roll out positive news over the next few months.

“Our team is working around the clock to ensure this year’s SuperGP will be our best event yet.”

17 February 2009

For further information, please call:

Minister Spence’s media: 3239 6218 or 0448 853 610

Brett Murray – BAM Media, Communications Manager – 0418 760066

Amanda Cobb – BAM Media, Media Manager – 0421 378789

ABOUT A1GP WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT POWERED BY FERRARI

Pitting nation against nation in the World Cup of Motorsport, A1GP unites countries in a competition where human bravery, skill and excellence determine victory.

Racing identical single-seat cars, the deliberately equalised technology allows countries as diverse as the USA, Lebanon, France, China and South Africa to compete on a level playing field.

ABOUT V8 SUPERCARS

V8 Supercars is proudly Australian made but fast becoming a leading world export. International expansion is already occurring as the sport becomes globally recognised as the best touring car racing in the world.

V8 Supercars is easily the largest motorsport category in this Australia.

There are only two domestic markets where Formula One is not the most popular form of Motorsport. These are Australia with V8 Supercars and the United States with NASCAR.

ABOUT THE SUPERGP, GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND

The SuperGP is a partnership between the Queensland Government and IMG.

IMG is the world's premier Sports, Entertainment and Media Company.

IMG is a diversified global business with two major business segments: IMG Sports & Entertainment, and IMG Media.

IMG employs over 2,300 people in 30 countries.

Forstmann Little & Co. purchased IMG in 2004.

The Queensland Government invest $11.6 Million a year into the SuperGP.

More information about IMG is available at www.imgworld.com,

www.darlowsmithson.com and www.tigeraspect.co.uk