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Saturday, 22 March 2008 - (Adelaide, SA) It was announced today by ANDRA and Western Sydney International Dragway (WSID) that the magnificent New South Wales venue has been awarded the rights to run drag racing's most prestigious event, the annual Australian Nationals, for the next three years.
The event was first staged in 1965, bringing drag racers together from all over the country to find who was best on the day. From there the Australian Nationals circulated around Australia's best tracks on an annual basis, until being "taken off the road" in the early nineties and given a long term home in Melbourne. The event flourished there before Willowbank Raceway, with backing from Queensland Events Corporation won the rights to stage the "Big Go" in Ipswich, Queensland from 2001.
After six years, Western Sydney International Dragway has been successful in taking the event to New South Wales, where it will open the 2008/2009 Australian Group One Championships and the Rocket Allstars Racing Series on Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th, 2008.
Sydney's bid and an expression of interest from the Perth Motorplex arose last month when the Queensland track advised it could not confirm a multi day schedule that fitted ideally with other fixtures in the region and the local weather patterns.
ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton said the move by the other tracks was a clear indication of the value and attraction of Australian Drag Racing's oldest event. "Despite the season long chase for the Australian Championships, the Nationals remains a very special event in the calendar, for racers and fans." he remarked. "The Willowbank team and Queensland have done an outstanding job with the event over the past six years and we thank them."
Thornton said the world standard Western Sydney venue was a worthy home for this icon of the sport. "Since it opened in 2003, WSID has taken drag racing to new heights. ANDRA has no doubt the track and the New South Wales Government would deliver a great result."
Western Sydney Managing Director Tony Beuk was pleased with the announcement, "It's a great result for our track and New South Wales from an events perspective. This is the most historic and prestigious event in Australian drag racing and to have it at WSID is a tremendous boost for our calendar. Willowbank Raceway has done a tremendous job with the event and we plan on taking it to an even higher level."
Willowbank Raceway's Managing Director, Steve Bettes was quick to congratulate WSID on their acquisition. "The calendar issue has been a difficult one with so much drag racing on our schedule. I'm extremely pleased that Willowbank Raceway was trusted to run this great event and I have to thank all the staff and volunteers who have helped out as well as the strong support we've had from Queensland Events.
With this key component of next season's calendar locked in, the remainder of the 2008/2009 ANDRA Championship schedule will be finalised and announced by the end of March.
Drag Racing's Most Important Event Moves To Sydney
Saturday, 22 March 2008 - (Adelaide, SA) It was announced today by ANDRA and Western Sydney International Dragway (WSID) that the magnificent New South Wales venue has been awarded the rights to run drag racing's most prestigious event, the annual Australian Nationals, for the next three years.
The event was first staged in 1965, bringing drag racers together from all over the country to find who was best on the day. From there the Australian Nationals circulated around Australia's best tracks on an annual basis, until being "taken off the road" in the early nineties and given a long term home in Melbourne. The event flourished there before Willowbank Raceway, with backing from Queensland Events Corporation won the rights to stage the "Big Go" in Ipswich, Queensland from 2001.
After six years, Western Sydney International Dragway has been successful in taking the event to New South Wales, where it will open the 2008/2009 Australian Group One Championships and the Rocket Allstars Racing Series on Friday, September 5th and Saturday, September 6th, 2008.
Sydney's bid and an expression of interest from the Perth Motorplex arose last month when the Queensland track advised it could not confirm a multi day schedule that fitted ideally with other fixtures in the region and the local weather patterns.
ANDRA CEO Tony Thornton said the move by the other tracks was a clear indication of the value and attraction of Australian Drag Racing's oldest event. "Despite the season long chase for the Australian Championships, the Nationals remains a very special event in the calendar, for racers and fans." he remarked. "The Willowbank team and Queensland have done an outstanding job with the event over the past six years and we thank them."
Thornton said the world standard Western Sydney venue was a worthy home for this icon of the sport. "Since it opened in 2003, WSID has taken drag racing to new heights. ANDRA has no doubt the track and the New South Wales Government would deliver a great result."
Western Sydney Managing Director Tony Beuk was pleased with the announcement, "It's a great result for our track and New South Wales from an events perspective. This is the most historic and prestigious event in Australian drag racing and to have it at WSID is a tremendous boost for our calendar. Willowbank Raceway has done a tremendous job with the event and we plan on taking it to an even higher level."
Willowbank Raceway's Managing Director, Steve Bettes was quick to congratulate WSID on their acquisition. "The calendar issue has been a difficult one with so much drag racing on our schedule. I'm extremely pleased that Willowbank Raceway was trusted to run this great event and I have to thank all the staff and volunteers who have helped out as well as the strong support we've had from Queensland Events.
With this key component of next season's calendar locked in, the remainder of the 2008/2009 ANDRA Championship schedule will be finalised and announced by the end of March.
