Surfers to stay until 2013?

[BobGarage]

from autosport


Surfers Paradise is set to become a fixture on the IndyCar Series schedule until 2013, according to Queensland's sports minister.

Following criticism from local MPs suggesting the event had no future, sports minister Judy Spence says that only the date needs to be finalised before the popular Australian race cements its place on the 2009 calendar.

"As far as we're concerned it is full steam ahead of Indy on the Gold Coast this year and beyond," she was quoted as saying by goldcoast.com.au.

"Our commitment to the future of the race has seen us renew our agreement through to 2013 and we have signed an memorandum of understanding with the IRL."

Spence added that the government was determined to secure the future of the race, and she is optimistic that the deal can be finalised during this year's non-championship event in the last weekend of October.

"We knew the Gold Coast wouldn't yet be listed on next year's IRL calendar because we are still negotiating the dates," she said. "They will not be finalised until we sit down with the IRL during this year's Indy.

"We are committed to ensuring that there is a formula race as well as a V8 car race."

[seppefan]

Lets just hope the inward looking element of the IRL management changes their views as Surfers is a must for the series in terms of some sponsord and global reach.

[chuck34]

But weren't we led to believe that TG had p!ssed in their Wheaties?

[ykiki]

Yes, it appears everything is set but the dates....and wasn't that the problem to begin with????

[MAX_THRUST]

Public posturing!!!! this way if it doesn't hapen the IRL look like the bad guys that couldn't make it happen.

At the end of the day there is tradition at this track now and that is worth keeping going and building on. If Chicago don't like it drop Chicago. Does the IRL want to be a national series or does it want to be a global brand like F1.

If they let this go now they may never get it back as the A1 GP series maybe interested or GP2 ASia series might take it as there first race of the season....

[acescribe]

Public posturing!!!!

If they let this go now they may never get it back as the A1 GP series maybe interested or GP2 ASia series might take it as there first race of the season....

Exactly.

The ball is firmly back in the IRL's court......

[ykiki]

The V8 Supercar Series has realeased their 2009 calendar, and the Nikon Indy 300 is listed as Oct 22-25, 2009
http://www.v8supercars.com.au/content/hero_news/september_08/2009_v8_supercar_calendar_released/

[MDS]

There is a lot of posturing on both sides about this, but lets get real. The global economy is tanking and both venues and sponsors could be difficult to come by. Surfers offers both a well attended international event and a sponsor for one of the series' top team.

A lot of drivers love Sufers, its attendance rivals the Indy 500. I've been there five times I think, three times as a crew member and twice with friends. It really is the best atmosphere for a race I've ever been to, and yes that included the 500.

Frankly looking at the economy there just won't be a lot of opportunities out there for the next two years, or longer, and Surfers' is a solid event, with a strong history, and its presence on the schedule has given us Will Power, and his sponsor, who is also paying for a full livery on Servia's car as well this week. Basically the way I see it, its better to work through some issues with a long standing success then trying to bring water to the desert.

[Chamoo]

Agree with MDS. Keep it on the sked whether that means strectching the schedule out or not. Work around them. They aren't asking us to come so much as we are walking into their house and telling them what way to set the table.

[millencolin]

let me all tell you something

as an employee of the Queensland Government in the Sport department.... Judy Spence is nothing but an idiot and nothing that she says can be taken seriously

Her money wasting and stupidity is so ridiculous that I am voting against the labor party (for which she is a member of) for the first time in history.

There is no deal yet, if you were to listen to judy, we had a 6 year deal back at may...