Plans to create blockbuster Perth round festival
Plans to create blockbuster Perth street circuit festival
Perth set to open 2027 championship with new street circuit event
WA Government plans to build $217.5 million, multi-purpose facility
Supercars is keen to open the 2027 championship with a Perth festival, which could incorporate both the proposed street circuit and CARCO.com.au Raceway.
The new Perth Street circuit is set to open the 2027 Supercars Championship, with the circuit located in a revamped Burswood Park precinct.
The Western Australian Cook Government plans to build a $217.5 million, multi-purpose facility, which will include a major events amphitheatre.
Approximately one third of the funding is set to go to transport improvements, which will help spectators to and from major events at the precinct.
Speaking in Perth last weekend, incoming Supercars CEO James Warburton said the new precinct would ensure a blockbuster start to the new season.
“We're a national championship. We go to every state and every territory,” Warburton said in a broadcast Q&A.
"We are very well supported here in WA, but for us it's actually about kicking our year off with that signature event that we always had for those years with Adelaide, which is obviously now our finale.
“When you look at what the WA government is trying to achieve here, they're building an entertainment and sports precinct that can bring major events to the city.
“By having a permanent pit building, a little bit like we had in Townsville, every other sport and events can use that over the course of years.
"They're talking about a 21,000 seat amphitheatre so they can bring world-class acts in. And then within that, you know, we would bring a four to 10-day festival to bring an unbelievable street race.”
A 10-day festival could also include events in Wanneroo, albeit without Supercars racing action.
“We’re there for effectively the 10 days, bringing Wanneroo in as well,” Warburton told media of the Perth festival plans.
“Everything we possibly can do, we will do, and we’d love to launch the year in ’27 [in Perth].”
The 2024 season opened with a 10-day festival at Mount Panorama, which combined the Bathurst 12 Hour and the Bathurst 500 Supercars round.
Warburton said a new major Perth event would also be a major financial winner for the region, adding: “You look at the economic stimulus, third party numbers… $63 million of economic stimulus [in Adelaide], $58 million on the Gold Coast.
"So this will be a major sports event for WA and we'd love to launch it here, if that's what the government wants to do."
CARCO.com.au Raceway became the first circuit in ATCC/Supercars Championship history to host 100 races last week.
