V8 Supercars Close Book On Sydney Olympic Park Street Circuit Race

Seven years after it was launched as V8 Supercars' "attempt to crack Sydney's sports market," the Olympic Park street circuit event "is on the way out," according to Ed Jackson of the AAP. V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton announced on Tuesday that "the event on the streets of Homebush won't continue as part of the championship beyond this year." The Sydney 500 "has been the season finale for every year since its inception in 2009." At the time, the event was seen as V8's "best chance to land a showpiece event in Australia's largest city." Then NSW Premier Nathan Rees justified a A$30M ($22.8M) government outlay on the event, saying 15,000 visitors from interstate and overseas "would come to the city for the weekend." Gosford on the NSW Central Coast "has been mooted as a possible destination for the event from next year onwards" (AAP, 3/22).