Barbagallo Raceway axed from V8 calendar
Monday 8th February, 2010

Barbagallo Raceway’s round of the V8 Supercars Championship Series has been axed off this year’s calendar.

V8 Supercars Australia has today confirmed its final 2010 calendar, which includes the City of Ipswich 300 at Queensland Raceway while omitting the Perth event that had been provisionally scheduled for June 4-6.

In a statement today, acting V8 Supercars Australia CEO Shane Howard said that a resolution could not be reached between V8SA and the Western Australia Sporting Car Club regarding the facilities at the circuit.

“It is great news that we have been able to secure the City of Ipswich 300 but disappointing we have been unable to find a workable solution to the similar issues we have at Barbagallo Raceway,” Howard said.

“We are extremely disappointed for all of our fans in WA. As a group we have worked overtime in trying to get this third world facility re-vamped so that both the Paddock and the pit lane meet basic OH&S legislation.

“Despite a reduced sanction fee of around 25 percent of the actual cost for us to race in Perth, committing to a long-term five-year deal and offering the services of Mark Skaife and our engineers to design the new circuit at our cost, we still get a lip service response.

“The situation is best summed up by a recent seven page letter and subsequent letters that have received just a one paragraph response at best. Our WA fans will at least have the extensive free to view live coverage on the 7 Network.

“Hopefully this opens the door for other regions of Western Australia to approach us with a view to bringing one of the world’s greatest Touring Car Championships to a new destination in the future.”

At the Barbagallo Raceway round last year, talks between V8SA, the WASCC and the WA government were, apparently, progressing well, with plans to extend and refurbish Barbagallo Raceway in advanced stages.

The WASCC was unavailable for comment when contacted by Speedcafe.com.au this evening.

Sounds like a similar situation to what happened with Eastern Creek. Another track bites the dust.

Just wondering of the merits of all the Australian "circuit" track organisers banding together.

If they all got together and told Cocko "we're not running your stinkin' championship on your terms. We'll only hold your races our way". How different would the racing landscape look when Cocko doesn't hold all the aces.

The little guys fight back against the school bully.

We need to get rid of this twit!

Someone say it....."Tell him he's dreaming".

So is there a replacement?

domme wrote:
So is there a replacement?

The circus is coming to a town near you!

And most definitely on the streets, where v8 supercars seem to be destined.

Ok now before I start, I am extremely disappointed in the fact that Perth has been axed, shame for WA racing fans and really shame for our sport as it was a great track.

In saying this however, the WA Government and those involved should have seen this coming... it's been on the cards for a long time and they were warned last year that the track needed to be improved.

I know people are saying this is the 'TC' way and his dream is getting in the way of the true racing spirit.

If it is true that the WA Government was going to give $5 million to improving the track, then perhaps the whole TC issue may have some legs but we need to know more about how much that would cover and what else would need to be looked at.

If not however then this falls onto those in charge of racing in WA for not heeding the warnings... I mean if a premier category like F1 can threaten to take away races for not being held at night or like what happened with the US GP, then this is no surprise.

V8 Supercars is no longer just a series of races in Australia, it's a corporate brand, and one that represents the premier racing category in this country to the world, so if the facilities at Barbagello are not up to scratch as is being touted by the V8SA, then it's a fair call because fans who pay their hard earned would want to be able to experience the race in the best facilities possible.

I do hope Perth gets an event back in 2011, whether it's at a revamped Barbagello or a street race around Perth because WA deserves racing... however this will be up to the powers that be in WA to show their true support for an event, not just some token gesture that will achieve little for the future.

I Agree with you there mate WA Can not go out with a V8Supercar event just like that!. Western Australia needs V8Supercars so V8Supercars can stay were it is now or "TC" Is just going to loose more V8 Fans...

I think that they are just taking Barbagallo off the Calendar because of the upgrade to the track. I have herd that they have been talks of upgrading the track some time last year. But i thought they would of just did upgrades after the event since it's placed in June and not November. That way in 2011 if they have not finished the Upgrades they could of just placed the round back in November to give them more time to do stuff. But this is how they want to play this i guess Shame on V8s that's all i have to say we have lost another great track to the Championship and to the cost of money. I think we all now no that this is a Money Sport and not a Fan Sport!

yeah i heard this on the radio this morning - i was surprised that officials had called the circuit third world.

Peronal opinion I dont mind the track im just confused as to why they wouldnt accept the offer of having Mark Skaife and engineers of the V8SC to help design the new circuit at our head offices cost ???

i think there could have been alot of good things come out of it.

not good...not good at all

It doesn't sound like there is gouig to be a replacement, unless someone can come up with a better circuit and is willing to pay more money. However Perth fans can get all coveerage via 7's free to air telecast. Wooooo Hoooooo!

Yeah, you can really hear the roar of a v8 from the comfort of your couch, NOT.

Can't belive it, really can't.

Some of the comments Garth Tander said are so true! Read below.
www.speedcafe.com.au/2010/02/09/storm-lo...er-barbagallo-axing/

Leading West Australian V8 Supercar race driver Garth Tander is disappointed that he won’t be racing at his home circuit this year after V8’s decision not abandon the Barbagallo Raceway round of the series this year in June.

The Toll Holden Racing Team driver, who learned his racing craft in junior open-wheel racing at the circuit, says that the loyal fans of the V8 Supercars are the biggest losers.

“It’s disappointing on many levels, especially for the people of Perth,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate, not only for myself who gets to race there once a year, but for the people who have been going to that race for the last 25 years and supported the series when it wasn’t as strong as it is now. It seems the series is jumping off the bandwagon pretty quickly when they feel that the circuit is not up to a level that they feel acceptable.
“The WA government committed to spending $5 million at the facility, but it hasn’t been deemed good enough to get the facility up to the required level.”V8 Supercars Australia announced yesterday it was pulling out of its WA round, due to inadequate facilities, among other reasons.

Tander insists that to remain a truly ‘national’ championship, V8 Supercars needs to make its best efforts to hold a race on the west coast.

“I think it’s vital that we visit every capital city, and it’s important that we do go to places like Perth, Darwin and far away venues,” he said.

“In the past, the series has prided itself on being a national championship that visits every state and every capital city, and now they’ve jumped off that. They used that term when it suited them, and obviously now it doesn’t suit them.“I’ve done a lot of radio interviews this morning, and a lot of the feedback, via talkback, and even the feeling I’ve got on my website is that everyone’s upset that Perth has lost another event – the V8s is considered a major event there. The WA people feel betrayed that the series has left.”
Tander hopes a resolution can be sorted soon – and wants the series to maintain its original date in June this year.

“Based on what I’ve read in the media, there looks to be a position where all parties involved can negotiate, but it’s going to require a bit of giving and taking by all parties involved,” he said.

“I think that is an opportunity to mediate and fix the problem. We’ve seen it happen with Queensland Raceway, and I certainly hope for the WA people’s sake that everyone involved sits down and works through it.”