The Queensland Raceway is in the news at present, not the least of which is the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship moving to the Ipswich venue this weekend for the Coates Hire Ipswich Supersprint.
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There will be another change of driver in this week's round, with veteran Craig Baird replacing young Newcastle driver Aaren Russell in the Erebus Motorsport Holden.
This follows a stoush between sponsor Plus Fitness boss John Fuller and Erebus Motorsport owner Betty Klimenko.
AR Racing has advised Erebus of their intention to end their agreement with Erebus Motorsport at the midway point of the 2016 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship.
General manager of Motorsport Barry Ryan expressed his disappointment at AR Racing’s decision, noting that the actions now being taken by Erebus are necessary to protect Erebus from further risk and cost.
Russell terminated a contract where his family owned business — Aaren Russell Racing — leased a Racing Entitlements Contract from Erebus Motorsport V8 and also paid running costs.
Fuller threatened to pull his support from the team after Klimenko ordered down a Fitness Plus promotional stand that was handing out rubber wristbands, which were being used by fans to wrap posters given out by rival teams.
Certainly a lot of talk at present on the proposed $220 million upgrade to the Queensland Raceway which was built in 1999 and had very little in the way of changes since.
The Ipswich City Council (ICC) has an Ipswich motorsport precinct master plan, marketed as the most significant of its kind in the Pacific and South East Asia.
It includes a $52.34 million expansion of Queensland Raceway, Willowbank Raceway, and Ipswich Kart Club.
The plan includes a three-star hotel and motorsport infrastructure consisting of a central hub, speedway facility and an off-road facility - a $42.74 million development.
A further investment of $127.54 million in industrial and commercial space and general infrastructure is also in the plan.
Council has established a management company - Ipswich Motorsport Precinct Pty Ltd - and has signed a formal agreement with Bathurst Regional Council to drive the redevelopment.
The ICC has released the first official renderings of the circuits upgrade, and it shows a new loop which will add a further seven corners to the long-criticised existing six-turn, 3.21km layout, known as the 'paperclip'.
The redesign ensures that the current layout remains untouched and can continue to be used independently of the new section.
