Cash helps motorplex move up a gear

The Masterton Motorplex upgrade is well on track with a $200,000 grant from Trust House further fuelling progress.

Representatives of the motorplex, under construction for just over a year, were informed of the donation at a grants evening earlier this month.

Trust House community support manager Craig Thomson said the project had potential to bring more business into the Wairarapa and the grant reflected their support for this.

"It's a $3 million project and there's a lot to be done," he said.

Masterton Motorplex event co-ordinator Bob Wilton said the support was fantastic.

The purpose-built race track would be used by people from all over New Zealand and it was great to have the support of the community.

"They are believing in our project. It's amazing to see."

It would cost an estimated $1.4 million just to get the track in useable condition and the continued support from local companies was vital.

Mr Wilton said he hoped the new international-standard track would draw more people from outside the region and would be a fun thing for people to go and see.

He said they had conducted surveys at previous race meets which showed around three-quarters of spectators came from out of the region.

Around half of those stayed overnight, putting more money into the local economy.

Mr Wilton said he was not sure when the track would be ready for use, but was happy with fundraising efforts so far.

The $200,000 would go towards general construction costs.