Second SA V8 race will not detract from Clipsal in Adelaide: Confederation of Australian Motor Sport

A second V8 race to be held in South Australia's Murraylands will not detract from the Clipsal 500 street race in Adelaide, the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) says.

Tailem Bend Motorsport Park director Sam Shahin yesterday said he had signed an agreement with V8 Supercars to secure a race at the track by 2017 if a proposed $80 million upgrade of the racetrack, about one hour east of Adelaide, goes ahead.

It followed a Federal Government announcement to match a State Government commitment and pledge $7.5 million in funding for the park.

CAMS chief executive Eugene Arocca said the state was underrepresented on the V8 circuit and, if Victoria could support three races, SA could support two.

"We don't believe that when you've got a product as strong as Clipsal that a second race would detract from that, provided it's not in the following week or the following month," he said.

Adelaide's Clipsal 500 race takes place in March each year and is widely considered one the most successful and well-attended races on the Supercar circuit.

"It would have to be timed appropriately but just as in Victoria where we have three races over eight months, there's no reason why South Australia couldn't have two races over eight months," Mr Arocca said.

He said there were many "ground level" supporters for V8 Supercars and "it would be just as exciting and just as well supported" as the Clipsal.

Mr Shahin was confident that the second race at Tailem Bend would go ahead.

"We have a commitment, a signed commitment from V8 Supercars, to run a second V8 Supercar race in South Australia when this facility is finished," he said.

Source : ABC News    May 19th 2015