Motorsport: V8 Supercars deny final event will be downgraded

Promoters claim the last V8 Supercars races in Hamilton won't be downsized. Photo / Paul Estcourt

V8 Supercars Australia is rejecting suggestions that there is a risk the fifth and final event in Hamilton could be scaled back.

The Hamilton City Council is warning, in a report to be considered by the council's finance and monitoring committee today, that there is a risk the event on April 20-22 could be downsized.

But Hamilton ITM400 general manager Greg Mosen told the Herald there were no plans to downsize.

"The Hamilton ITM400 will be the best yet and, in fact, bigger than in previous years."

This year's line-up included the same number of support races with larger fields and new grandstands to provide better viewing for racegoers. The promoter, V8 Supercars Australia, also revealed last year that INXS would headline the concert on Saturday night. There would not be a concert on Sunday night like last year when ZZ Top played at Seddon Park on Saturday and Good Charlotte took to the stage on Sunday night.

Mr Mosen said ticket sales had sold faster than previous years and corporate hospitality had already exceeded 2011 bookings.

Building of the track starts next week and he said further improvements had been made to get it set up in record time and reduce the disruption to the city.

Hamilton City Council's V8 project manager Carol Serra said, in her report, there was a medium risk of the event being downsized and pointed to ongoing media coverage criticising the council's processes and the high cost of the event following the damning V8 audit report. By April 2010 the event is expected to have cost the council $40 million and the V8 reserve will have a deficit of $13.984 million.

Frankton Community Liaison Group chairwoman councillor Angela O'Leary said the group - which was set up to work with affected Frankton businesses - would be told of any issues at its first meeting next week.

However, she was not aware of any changes, adding that with the building of the track appearing to start later than previous years there had been little disruption.