A PUBLICITY stunt which would generate world-wide publicity for the city appears certain to get the green light.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
When Bathurst Regional Council gathers for its ordinary monthly meeting on Wednesday one item on the agenda is bound to receive plenty of attention behind closed doors.
A confidential report will look at the possibility of Formula One champion Jenson Button bringing one of his team’s cars to Mount Panorama to swap driving duties with V8 Supercar ace Craig Lowndes sometime next month.
The concept was first tried in March last year when Button and Holden driver Jamie Whincup swapped cars to do four hot laps around the Albert Park circuit as part of the build up to the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne.
A similar promotion is now being talked about with the iconic Mount Panorama the lure.
Mayor Paul Toole has confirmed council has been approached by V8 Team Vodafone and F1 Vodafone McLaren regarding the initiative.
“Both teams want to swap the drivers and cars and see how they perform around Mt Panorama,” he said. “We’re now in the final stages of negotiations with both camps. It’s just a matter of sorting out a few details.
“It will be discussed in confidential committee, but I reckon the proposal has every chance of getting up.”
Cr Toole said this type of media event would put Bathurst and Mount Panorama onto the world stage.
“It’s a great opportunity to promote the region and one that should not be lost,” he said. “Imagine the media frenzy that would follow the story. It would be huge.”
Local motorsport commentator Brian Nightingale agrees.
“If council wants to chase tourist dollars, something like this would generate 10 times more publicity that the Bathurst 12-Hour race did,” he said.
“There would be worldwide coverage. It would be a fantastic coup if council could pull it off.”
Mr Nightingale said drivers like Button and Lowndes weren’t likely to go out and “go silly”.
“They know the limits,” he said. “The only problem I see is getting a F1 car through the Dipper. You’d have to slow the car right down.
“Formula One track experts have been and seen Mt Panorama, so they obviously think this is a realistic proposition.”
