2014 Clipsal 500 Details Revealed

After 15 years and with more than 3.5 million fans passing through the gate, race organisers of the Clipsal 500 Adelaide are excited to announce the single biggest change in the race’s history, in conjunction with another massive concert line-up featuring Grammy Award winning artist, Keith Urban.

The concept of a 500 kilometre race remains as the core of the event; however, Saturday’s fixture of racing will be conducted as two 125 kilometre races.

The exciting new format also includes a totally new evening race schedule, with the first of the 39 lap V8 Supercars events currently scheduled to start at 3.30pm and finish just before 5pm. The second V8 Supercar race for Saturday is scheduled to start at 6.30pm and finish around 7.30pm as the sun sets low over the Adelaide parklands circuit.

Sunday’s race format will see the V8 Supercars lining up for qualifying, the ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout and the final 250 kilometre leg of the Clipsal 500 Adelaide. On Friday, fans will be treated to a host of race action in the evening with V8 Utes, Touring Car Masters, Dunlop V8 Series and the Porsche Carrera Cup all on show after 5pm.

Clipsal 500 CEO Mark Warren said the new racing format will create more excitement, more drama and even closer competition.

“With the new racing format, fans will get to see two V8 Supercar race starts, two finishes, and the drivers going flat out with valuable Championship points awarded for each 125 kilometre race on Saturday afternoon and evening. Next year’s race will also see the debut of Volvo into the competition which is another first for Adelaide,” Warren said.

Minister for Tourism Leon Bignell said, “Each year, we always try and change things around a little bit to make it more exciting – and the change to two races on Saturday will certainly double the action for motorsport fans.

"I would like to congratulate the SA Motor Sport Board and the V8 Supercars organisation for making these great changes to next year's format."

Since the first V8 Supercar race was held in Adelaide back in 1999, the Clipsal 500 has transformed into an entertainment mecca. Over four days, the 2014 Clipsal 500 Adelaide will feature a feast of high octane entertainment action including V8 Supercar action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, feature race categories across all four days together with on-circuit entertainment and exciting on- and off-track events, including the return of the Touring Car Masters which are back by popular demand.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said the Adelaide event was a key pillar to V8 Supercars’ future.

“It’s appropriate that the mighty Clipsal 500 sets the tone for the 2014 season, as it has done for the last 16 years. The Clipsal 500 is without doubt one of this country’s most successful and remarkable entertainment events,” he said.

The New Holland Tractor Pull will feature for the first time at Clipsal 500 when the event will showcase the sixth round of the Australian Tractor Pull Championships; a fully sanctioned point’s event. The dirt and diesel fest has been in Australia for over 30 years and this is the first time in a capital city. Adelaide can look forward to seeing the sights and smells of high octane blown big block tractors and highly modified diesels pulling huge sleds almost to engine explosion. In 2014, there will be eight different classes of tractor competing for titles.

In addition, leading international and Australian artists who have become regular fixtures across the event’s concert fixture will again close each day’s action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Award-winning musician Keith Urban headlines a superstar concert line-up featuring; Guy Sebastian, Boom Crash Opera, Empire of the Sun, Kimbra, Bliss n Eso and Horrorshow.

After hugely successful 2012 and 2013 performances at the Clipsal 500, Bands On Track presented by Music SA will return to showcase some of SA's most exciting new and emerging local bands on the Clipsal 500 bill.

Clipsal 500 CEO Mark Warren said one of the key ingredients to success for the Clipsal 500 is the preparedness to innovate, re-invent and improve the event each year and the line-up of on- and off-track entertainment featuring Touring Car Masters, Tractor Pull, massive concert line-up, Australian Defence Force aerial displays, Showtime FMX just to name a few, that appeals to everyone is testament to this. A range of new and exciting viewing and ticketing initiatives have also been designed to maximise the enjoyment and experience for fans attending the event.

Fans will have access to new seating options in 2014 with tickets to the Chicane Grandstand including access to the Chicane Gold Zone area. Located Trackside and adjacent to the Chicane Grandstand patrons will enjoy a range of food and beverage facilities and be able to relax with family and friends on shaded chairs and tables as they take in all the action.

Changes have also been made to Turn Eight with the return of the Turn Eight Grandstand as well as the Turn 8 Premium Platform. Turn 8 patrons are also provided with exclusive access to the Turn 8 Precinct, an exclusive alfresco area also available for Brock Straight Grandstand and Turn 8 Grandstand patrons. Adjacent to the Turn 8 Grandstand you can relax Trackside and enjoy quality food and beverage facilities in a relaxed atmosphere.

Tickets are available for the 2014 Clipsal 500 now.