Plan for second racetrack at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama

The company behind Dubai's Autodrome, China's planned Zhejiang Circuit, and upgrades to Sydney's Motorsport Park is to design a second circuit at the famed Mount Panorama racing precinct in Bathurst.

The UK-based Apex Circuit Design has been awarded the $3.7 million tender to design the Velocity Park precinct, which, when complete, will see motorcycles again race in Bathurst – which hosted the first Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at nearby Yetholme in 1914.

Commenting on Apex Circuit Design’s credentials, Mount Panorama Second Track group spokesman Lachlan Sullivan stated “they have a long, long history of designing quality racing circuits.”

The new track will be located to the south of the existing Bathurst 1000 track and will include a go-kart track. The precinct set up to host events every week of the year for a variety of motorsports, expected to host 50,000 spectators at any one time, and will have approval from the two peak governing bodies, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and International Motorcycle Federation (FIM).

The project has been given $15 million from the NSW Government and $10 million from the Commonwealth, with its expected final cost set to be more than $50 million.

With the full design expected to take more than 18 months, Bathurst Mayor Graeme Hanger told the ABC “we are a way off, but we are starting. This is the beginning of a track that may take up to three years before we are driving on it, maybe even longer.”

The Council said it would be continuing negotiations with both the NSW and Federal Governments about further funding as the project progressed.

Image: The planned track is expected to host international level motorcycle and car races. 

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