Innovation at Action Packed 2011 Clipsal 500 Adelaide

22 September 2010

INNOVATION AT “ACTION PACKED” 2011 CLIPSAL 500 ADELAIDE

Twilight racing action, an ‘eighties’ theme to the Saturday night concert, fireworks synchronized to music, a new look for the Murray Walker’s Extreme Machines, new grandstand and family ticket offers, and new corporate facilities are to be highlights of next year’s Clipsal 500 V8 Supercar carnival to be held on Adelaide’s world famous city street circuit.

Innovation had and would continue to be the key to the success of the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, South Australian Motor Sport Board Chairman Mr. Roger Cook, AO said at the launch of the 2011 event held at the Adelaide Casino today where the new, exciting innovations were announced.

The date for 2011 was confirmed by South Australia’s Deputy Premier Mr. Kevin Foley as March 17-20.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Cook said:

‘Next year’s major initiative at the action packed Clipsal 500 Adelaide is an exciting change to the motorsport format with twilight race competition being part of the program on the Thursday and Friday evening for the Australian GT category.

This will allow fans to witness the excitement of cars competing into the dusk with lights blazing and disc brake rotors glowing.

It will also allow fans to come to the circuit after work to catch some of the spectacular race action’.

In a further innovation the Australian GT cars will be located just inside the main entrance to the circuit (Gate 1 off Halifax Street) and will be part of the Murray Walker Extreme Machines car display with free access to all Clipsal 500 Adelaide ticketholders.

Mr. Cook also announced a new concert format for the Saturday night of the event – free to all Clipsal 500 Adelaide ticketholders – as the Radio Mix 102.3 Eighties Flashback concert followed by the Mix 102.3 Big Bang Fireworks display.

The *band line-up for the Saturday concert will include Mondo Rock, The Uncanny X-Men, Pseudo Echo, and The Chantoozies with Brian Mannix (The Uncanny X-Men) and Ally Fowler (The Chantoozies) attending today’s launch. Other concert acts are to be announced in the coming months.

Deputy Premier Kevin Foley who unveiled the 2011 event’s official poster and promotional theme – “It’s Action Packed” – said that some $4.1m of grandstand advanced sales had already been achieved for the 21011 event, representing sixty six per cent (66%) of the seats available.

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‘The news is also good in relation to corporate interest, with eighty six per cent (86%) of exclusive facilities already sold - meaning that sales are tracking at some fourteen per cent (14%) greater than at this time last year, and as a result a new corporate package had been created located on pit exit called The President’s Villa’, Mr. Foley said.

New ticket options** for 2011 include Trackside Gold as a special launch offer where for $175 for four days, fans will be able to experience the thrill of the Pit Straight action from an unreserved grandstand seat.

Also new in 2011 is Family Grandstand seating in the Barry Sheene Pit Straight stand where family groups can purchase four reserved seats for the price of three.

In addition to the two V8 Supercar races for the Clipsal 500 Adelaide, feature race events announced at today’s launch were Fujitsu V8 Supercars, Australian GT, Touring Car Masters, V8 Utes, and Aussie Racing Cars with another category to be confirmed closer to the event.

The launch was attended by V8 Supercar drivers James Courtney, Steven Johnson,

Garth Tander and Jason Bright. All drivers praised the event for its spectacular racing action and carnival atmosphere.

A glimpse of the exotic vehicles to be part of the Murray Walker’s Extreme machines display and on circuit demonstrations was given at the launch with the unveiling of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 valued at approximately $400,000.

The 2011 Clipsal 500 Adelaide official charity was named as the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

This year’s (2010) Clipsal 500 Adelaide was attended by 277,800 patrons and is the largest and most successful domestic motor sport event in Australia. The event produced an economic benefit of $33.76 million dollars and created 65,945 bed nights.

The Media audit of the 2010 event found that the value of the coverage was $133.3 million dollars and the event was telecast to over 1.025 million viewers over two days in Australia with international television beaming the event to 853 million homes in 142 countries.

For tickets phone Ticketek on 132 849 or book online at

*The event may add, withdraw, re-schedule or substitute artists and/or vary the event program

**Conditions Apply

The 2011 Clipsal 500 Adelaide – It’s Action Packed

For further information contact:

Mike Drewer Clipsal 500 Adelaide Media and Publicity Manager:

P 08 8278 1706 M 0419 273 333 E

VISIT THE EVENT WEB SITE