V8: Barbagallo round dropped

V8 Supercars Australia has dropped Barbagallo Raceway from the 2010 V8 Supercars Championship calendar.

Just days after confirming a late reprieve for the round at Queensland Raceway in May, the series organisers have released an updated calendar without the races at the Perth circuit, originally scheduled to take place in early June.

A statement from acting V8 Supercars Australia CEO Shane Howard blasted owners at the ‘third world facility’ after revealing that V8SA had offered its help in redesigning and revamping the venue.

“It is great news that we have been able to secure the City of Ipswich 300 (at Queensland Raceway) but disappointing we have been unable to find a workable solution to the similar issues we have at Barbagallo Raceway,” Howard said.

“We are extremely disappointed for all of our fans in Western Australia. As a group we have worked overtime in trying to get this third world facility re-vamped so that both the Paddock and the pit lane meet basic OH&S legislation.

“Despite a reduced sanction fee of around 25 per cent of the actual cost for us to race in Perth, committing to a long-term five-year deal and offering the services of Mark Skaife and our engineers to design the new circuit at our cost we still get a lip service response.

“The situation is best summed up by a recent seven page letter and subsequent letters that have received just a one paragraph response at best.

“Hopefully this opens the door for other regions of Western Australia to approach us with a view to bringing one of the world’s greatest Touring Car Championships to a new destination in the future.”

The news means the 2010 championship will be fought out across 15 rounds rather than the planned 16, as no replacement event has been announced.

Watch the V8 Supercar Championship on Motors TV (Sky Channel 413, Virgin Media 545) in 2010.


Andy Wilkinson