SECRET CANBERRA RACE PLAN EXPOSED

A secret plan for a Supercars street race event in Canberra has been revealed, with V8 racing’s return to the national capital targeted for 2023.

Proposed by a small group backed by local entrepreneurs, the idea is for 3.2km circuit utilising roads surrounding the Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC) on the northern outskirts.

Just a concept now, the first stage of official talks is scheduled for the end of this month.

If approved, the EPIC track would host the final round of the Supercars championship in late November or early December from ’23 or ’24.

It would mark the return of Supercars to Canberra, which hosted a street race round on roads in the shadow of Parliament House 20 years ago.

Held in late June 2000-02, it was canned by local authorities with two years of the contract remaining. The winter date was a turn-off to crowds.

The plan for a new V8 event in Canberra, in the works since 2019, has yet to be formally submitted to the ACT government.

But in preliminary discussions, the territory’s tourism authority and other related departments have supported the EPIC location idea and remain open to a formal submission.

It is the same location that incorporates the Canberra Showground, which hosts the annual Summernats street machine festival, which has been one of the ACT’s biggest events since 1987.

The anti-clockwise circuit would be made up of roads around the EPIC precinct, although an insider maintained the track would be more interesting than the simple layout that has been speculated.

Essentially an exhibition/sporting site, EPIC is away from built-up suburban areas and accessible from major roads and public transport.

The circuit would incorporate existing pavilions for the pits and corporate viewing facilities. Conversion of buildings to multi-purpose use like the Albert Park AGP circuit pit lane complex is envisaged.

A major advantage is that the EPIC complex in Mitchell is accessible by the new light rail line that runs along Northbourne Avenue from the city centre.

Those behind the scheme are pitching an environmentally friendly and economically sustainable meeting that would create the least disruption and would not be exorbitantly expensive to fund.

“We’re looking at a totally new approach,” an insider said. “It would be low-impact and high sustainability. The plan is business-based, yet environmentally and community friendly.

“It would be a new way of conducting a government-supported street race event.”

Although not directly involved yet, Supercars is understood to be supporting the concept of a season-ending street race event in the national capital.

It likes the idea of racing in the ACT to bolster its claim of being a truly national competition, with rounds in all six states and the Northern Territory.

Returning to Canberra would match the AFL, which in a normal season holds games in all eight of the nation’s jurisdictions.

Better weather in November/December would make it a much bigger drawcard than the ‘01/02 events in bitterly cold June.

While showcased by Supercars, the event has scope to feature ARG assets as well, plus eco-friendly electric racing.

The proponents of the Canberra track admit their scheme is far from approval, but they remain confident their innovative approach will be carefully considered.

AA understands the first formal proposal will be presented to the relevant ACT authorities at the end of this month.

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