Motorsport Backwater

[Raskill]

Well, The NSW Government has refused to support the A1GP, so now NSW (and Australia) has lost another international motorsport event. With the F1GP also looking to go elsewhere, and the World rally Championship missing last year, seems we are fast becoming a motorsport back water.

Well done to Iemma and his boys.

Maybe we could get Krudd to build a memorial to all the lost motorsport events.

[idleowen]

that sucks.............

A1GP is/was a great event to photograph...........

[kiwi]

Indy is barely hanging on up here also.

Fact of life is that we are in the wrong timezone and don't bring in the same $ as say China or wherever.

Cricket will be next...you watch.

[Glen]

They would prefer everyone raced hybrids, maybe that is an idea for a new series? Or try calling Eastern Creek a toll road, they seem to get priority these days

[Pehpsi]

Iemma was in my good-books after giving WSID the nod, but looks like his not as generous in other areas..

[Killakoala]

The wankers (NSW government) are now spending 40 million of taxpayers money on an advertising campaign to get more tourists to come to NSW as apparently the numbers have been rapidly falling recently. Well, DUH!!! Is the NSW government really that stupid????

Not that I am a fan of motorsport, but I have empathy for those who are.

[sheepie]

Yes - I noticed that fairly glaring ommission from the timetable yesterday! NOT HAPPY!!!

Not surprising really, given the pathetic way it has been promoted and thus patronised over the three years. Need to take a page from the Kiwi's on how to run this Personally I think it's a result of a snobish attitude which seemed to consider the A1 as an illegitimate series - I feel a weekend with the A1 and some real support categories could have really flourished.

There is an event listed as TBA still, so maybe we'll end up with a street race around Homebush? (doubtful)

Mind you, it's not just motorsport - even the Bledisloe is being played outside of NZ & Aus this year!

[Raskill]

The NSW Government has an 'Events Office' now, with an annual budget of about 35 million. It is their responsibility to arrange major events. A1 now ask for payment from States (or countries) holding their event. It is no different to the WRC, F1GP or MotoGP, in fact it is quoted as being 'considerably less'.

But, unless it's for free, apparently it's too much.

This State is becoming a farce. The Premier State, my arse.

[MCWB]

Indy is barely hanging on up here also.

I think post-IRL/CCWS unification this event will get stronger, some FTA IRL coverage wouldn't go astray though!

For all that I enjoyed shooting at the A1GP at EC, Sydney people just don't go to EC in huge numbers for anything, including A1GP and V8SC. I don't know what it is, I suspect it's a combination of perception that it's too far away out west, poor spectator facilities and poor public transport options... so whilst I'm disappointed, I can't say I'm entirely surprised that EC isn't on the calendar.

Anyway Alan Jones had a bit of a rant here; interesting that he says he's talking to a couple of other tracks, as EC is currently the only FIA grade 2 track in Australia if I recall correctly...