The Bend Motorsport Park today held a launch event for the South Australian venue’s new quarter mile dragway. Construction has already begun on the strip, which will include a 1000 square meter burnout pad.

Other facilties will include a four-story control centre, lighting for night racing, a covered 1000 seat grandstand, a 10,000 seat amphitheatre and grassed mound seating for 30,000.

The plan is for both the drag strip and the burnout pad to be completed and ready for action by December.

While it is yet to be announced who will manage the running of the strip, a spokesman for The Bend has told Street Machine that the strip will not have an exclusive sanctioning body.

The launch was attended by South Australian Premier Steven Marshall. The South Australian government kicked in $2 million from the Regional Growth Fund towards the construction of the $30 million facility.

“This is a fantastic announcement by the Shahin family,” said Mr Marshall.

“This is not only a fantastic employer in South Australia, but they’ve built an incredible facility here at The Bend. Their announcement today cements The Bend as the home of motorsport in here South Australia – a $30 million dollar investment commitment to this incredible dragway.

“We’ve needed this in South Australia for such a long time. We’re pleased to be supporting this as part of our Regional Development Fund, because this is going to create jobs in Tailem Bend in construction and on an ongoing basis.

“Most importantly, its going to bring tourists up from Adelaide, from interstate and ultimately…from right around the world.

“We’re also announcing another half million dollars to go into the Big 4 park here at The Bend. It is an incredible facility and its going to get even bigger.”

The state government also announced a further $3.1 million to support grass roots motorsport in the state.

The Bend Motorsport Park Managing Director Dr Sam Shahin also spoke:

“This the largest private investment in Australia’s motorsport history. The Bend is a world class facility. The dragway that we are seeing today completes the promise of building a complete motorsport theme park, that encompasses all of the disciplines of motorsport that you see here.

“The circuit is the second-longest race track in the world at 7.7km. We also have an international standard go-kart facility, rally, rally cross, skid pan, four wheel adventure park, a four star hotel, a holiday park that is getting a big boost. We’ve kept the promise to build it right here in South Australia.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be standing here, looking down on what will in 10 months time or so, host the first drag racing event in South Australia in a long long time. I thank the goverment for its support, I can assure you that it is money very well spent and invested in the region and the state.”

The full press release from The Bend is reproduced below:

“The Bend will further cement its place as Australia’s premier motorsport destination with construction started on a new $30 million dragway designed to host A-grade quarter-mile events

The dragway will be dual-lane strip over 1 kilometre with quarter-mile concrete timed length and lighting for night events, and will feature auditorium-style terraced seating and spectator viewing mounds. There will be a 1000 square metre burnout pad and over 3 hectares of paddock and staging areas.

Dragway events each year are expected to attract more than 120,000 attendees, create more than 200 jobs and generate more than $13 million of economic activity per year. The dragway will receive $2 million from the South Australian government’s Regional Growth Fund towards construction.

The Bend Motorsport Park Managing Director Dr Sam Shahin is thrilled about being able to fulfill the vision for The Bend as the most complete motorsport park in the world, catering for a broad range of motorsport disciplines through the single gate: “The Bend Motorsport Park

is truly a world class motorsport facility. We continue our unwavering commitment to Australian motorsport. If you love motorsport, there is no place like The Bend. This is motorsport’s holy land and I want every Australian to experience it! ”

The Bend already boasts the second longest permanent racing circuit in the world that has attracted international level racing. The karting facility is of international standard and has already hosted national level events. There are rally, rallycross, four wheel drive and skid pan facilities that regularly cater for national and international brands.

This is complimented by a rich program of fun and exciting driver experiences. The facility is supported by a 100 room 4-star hotel on site that has become a prime conferencing destination and a stunning holiday park that is currently undergoing further upgrades with additions such as mini golf, an 11km nature walk and entertainment facilities.”