V8 Supercars return to Sydney's refurbished Eastern Creek Raceway

The newly rebuilt Eastern Creek Raceway in western Sydney is to host a V8 Supercars Australia event from 24th to 26th August.

The three-day 2012 Championship Series event at Eastern Creek Raceway will fill a hole in the V8 Supercars calendar as a result of the abandonment of an overseas event and while the series searches for a new venue in New Zealand.

As well as confirming that Winton Raceway, near Benalla, will, in mid-November, take the race that was to have been run at the international venue, V8 officials have announced that Eastern Creek Raceway will be used for the championship race that was to have been run at the Victorian track in late August.

The changes follow the sport having farewelled Hamilton, which appears to have hosted its last V8 event this weekend after ending its contract two years early.

The Eastern Creek Raceway event will the third V8 event staged in NSW and is in addition to the iconic Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 (from 4th to 7th October) and the Sydney Telstra 500 at Homebush (scheduled for 30th November to 2 December).

The new event will also be the official start of a week-long celebration of "all things V8" with the return of the Muscle Car Masters the following (Fathers' Day) weekend.

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris announced the event, stating "we are incredibly pleased that V8 Supercars Australia chose Western Sydney to host this race.

"Through Destination NSW and the Homebush Motor Racing Authority, we have been able to work with V8 Supercars Australia and the Australian Racing Drivers Club to make this happen and make even better use of the newly rebuilt Eastern Creek Raceway."

Announced in early 2011, Eastern Creek Raceway has undergone a $9 million upgrade, with the New South Wales Government providing $7 million with facilty manager the Australian Racing Drivers Club (ARDC) funding the other $2 million.

The upgrade has seen the track reconfigured into four layouts, with two able to be operated at the same time and with a total length of 4.7 kilometres. The upgrade also includes an additional pit lane facility to cater for the new configuration, a new race control tower and new amenities buildings.

ARDC Chief Executive Glenn Matthews said this is incredibly good news for his facility, stating "since the redevelopment announcement Sydney's motorsport fans have been loud and constant in their call for the return of the V8 Supercars to the venue.

"Eastern Creek is the only permanent race circuit in Sydney and is a perfect complement to the street circuit based round held at Homebush in December.

"This is the perfect platform to relaunch the new Eastern Creek, with new circuit layouts, refurbished pit lane and upgraded spectator facilities almost complete, combined with September marking the 60th Anniversary of the Australian Racing Drivers Club."

V8 Supercar Chief Executive David Malone said Australia's largest city can have motorsport nirvana with a thrilling circuit race at a great permanent venue followed by all the street circuit bells and whistles of the Sydney Telstra 500.

Malone explained "there will be something for all motorsport fans that week with the V8 Supercars featuring the best of the current crop of cars and drivers and The Masters presenting a great celebration of the cars and legends from the glory years of Bathurst."

According to Minister Souris, the economic benefits of major events such as V8 Supercars resonate throughout the economy.

Minister Souris explained "encouraging event organisers to stage their events in Sydney and NSW is all part of the NSW Government's determination to gain and keep the title of the nation's No.1 tourism and events city.

"The events strategy is simple: keep a continuous diet of blockbuster shows, peak arts events and major sports events of all codes including motorsport and festivals year round. In this way, tourists will be encouraged to come throughout

For more information go to www.eastern-creek-raceway.com

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