Street race

Dates have been confirmed for next year and now V8 Supercars Australia has released what the $30 million Townsville street circuit will look like.

Part of Boundary Street, where the Lou Lister Park, Townsville high school and civic centre are located, makes up the long main straight with the pit facilities at the far eastern end of the straight.

The clockwise circuit then swoops around to Charters Towers Rd and a purpose-built road featuring a bridge across Ross Creek will link the track through Reid Park.

The map shows five viewing mounds – two of which are joined together, and a support paddock south-west of the track.

Townsville’s inaugural round takes place from July 10 to 12 next year and is the first round of the 2009 to have its date confirmed.

V8 Supercars Chairman Tony Cochrane said Townsville would be an extremely exciting challenge for the category.

“I think it proves how hot we are; it proves how on the way up we still are that we could get three levels of government – Federal, State and local government - behind us in what is going to be a fantastic urban renewal of the City of Townsville,” he said.

Cochrane said the newest V8 circuit will be similar to Albert Park and that V8 Supercars Australia is the promoter of the event.

“North Queensland is an enormous market; (it’s) one of the greatest growth areas in Australia today.

“Now the huge audience in North Queensland has their first chance to see V8 Supercars live in their own region.”

Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence said she was pleased the local council, government and V8 Supercars Australia had finalized the date.

She said the date would provide “the perfect opportunity to visit Townsville during one of the best times of the year”.

“I have no doubt visitors from across the country will come to Townsville for this exciting event and take advantage of the warm, sunny weather during the last weekend of winter school holidays,” she said.

She said the State Government will contribute $2.5 million annually for the first five years of the event.