V8 Supercars has "left the door open" for Brisbane’s Central Business District to "host a race" in a move that could inject A$40M ($30.5M) into the city’s economy, according to Travis Meyn of the Brisbane COURIER-MAIL. The sport announced "a multi-million dollar sponsorship agreement with Virgin Australia" on Wednesday. The arrangement "will open doors to more races being hosted overseas, possibly in the Middle East, and help fans attend events through a new travel program." The Queensland Government’s contract to host three races -- Gold Coast, Townsville and Ipswich -- expires this year. Negotiations "are under way on a new five-year arrangement for the Queensland races but there is scope for Brisbane to host a race beyond that." V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said, "It’d be brilliant, fantastic. It’s been discussed and talked about across a whole host of years. Ultimately we’re really happy with Gold Coast and Townsville being slightly more regional. I’d never rule it out." The three Queensland events "are warmly embraced" and bring A$75M ($57.2M) into the state’s economy (COURIER-MAIL, 4/27).
