Latest news with #V8Supercars
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
WA Ag Minister laughs off reporter's nude run threat
The State Government has laughed off a reporter's threat to run a lap fully nude around the future Burswood race track, while insisting its $217 million budget for the track and amphitheatre is realistic. The Opposition has poured doubt on the Government's costings for the controversial project, which was announced in February during the election campaign and doesn't yet have a formal business case. The West Australian's Ben Harvey, in his Sunday Times column, said he was 'so certain the race track won't come in on time and budget' that he pledged to run a lap fully nude on the race track's opening day if he was wrong. Government Minister Jackie Jarvis suggested the tongue-in-cheek bet would be extra motivation to keep spending in check, before realising he was betting the budget would blow out. 'It's an entertainment precinct, I'm not sure that's the type of entertainment we had in mind,' she told reporters on Sunday. 'It's a quandary. I mean we want to be careful with taxpayers' money, we might just have to have a closed track option that day!' Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is confident the nude run won't happen, declaring the project will run over budget. 'The Minister admitted to me the $217 million dollar cost of the project is a guess based on draft assessments,' he said. 'This is a Government who don't listen and don't care, they do what they want and spend what they want. And they don't follow the rules. 'Minister Saffioti couldn't even confirm in estimates if the race track will be assessed by Infrastructure WA.' Labor confirmed a business case for the Burswood entertainment precinct is 'in development' during Budget estimates, when the Premier was put under pressure to explain why the plan has not been submitted to Infrastructure WA for independent assessment. 'I can confirm that the proposal has not been submitted, and Infrastructure WA has not yet been provided with a business case for assessment,' Mr Cook said. Liberal leader Basil Zemplias at a rally against Burswood race track at Parliament House Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian 'Obviously it is a project that at this stage is estimated to be over $100 million once the design and business case has been completed. It would, as a matter of course be referred to Infrastructure WA for its views.' A group of companies was awarded the contract to design and build the project this month, as the Cook Government aims to finish the racetrack in time for the opening round of the V8 Supercars in 2027. The consortium that includes Seymour Whyte, Civmec and Aurecon was the same group behind Perth's Boorloo pedestrian and cycling bridge that opened in East Perth in December and was $50 million over budget.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
No joke. Opposition says Labor's $217 million Burswood budget must be put to the test
The State Government has laughed off a reporter's threat to run a lap fully nude around the future Burswood race track, while insisting its $217 million budget for the track and amphitheatre is realistic. The Opposition has poured doubt on the Government's costings for the controversial project, which was announced in February during the election campaign and doesn't yet have a formal business case. The West Australian's Ben Harvey, in his Sunday Times column, said he was 'so certain the race track won't come in on time and budget' that he pledged to run a lap fully nude on the race track's opening day if he was wrong. Government Minister Jackie Jarvis suggested the tongue-in-cheek bet would be extra motivation to keep spending in check, before realising he was betting the budget would blow out. 'It's an entertainment precinct, I'm not sure that's the type of entertainment we had in mind,' she told reporters on Sunday. 'It's a quandary. I mean we want to be careful with taxpayers' money, we might just have to have a closed track option that day!' Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is confident the nude run won't happen, declaring the project will run over budget. 'The Minister admitted to me the $217 million dollar cost of the project is a guess based on draft assessments,' he said. 'This is a Government who don't listen and don't care, they do what they want and spend what they want. And they don't follow the rules. 'Minister Saffioti couldn't even confirm in estimates if the race track will be assessed by Infrastructure WA.' Labor confirmed a business case for the Burswood entertainment precinct is 'in development' during Budget estimates, when the Premier was put under pressure to explain why the plan has not been submitted to Infrastructure WA for independent assessment. 'I can confirm that the proposal has not been submitted, and Infrastructure WA has not yet been provided with a business case for assessment,' Mr Cook said. 'Obviously it is a project that at this stage is estimated to be over $100 million once the design and business case has been completed. It would, as a matter of course be referred to Infrastructure WA for its views.' A group of companies was awarded the contract to design and build the project this month, as the Cook Government aims to finish the racetrack in time for the opening round of the V8 Supercars in 2027. The consortium that includes Seymour Whyte, Civmec and Aurecon was the same group behind Perth's Boorloo pedestrian and cycling bridge that opened in East Perth in December and was $50 million over budget.
News.com.au
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Feeney does top end hat-trick in Darwin
Supercars: Brock Feeney made it three wins from three races in Darwin with Race 19 victory, extending his championship lead.
Perth Now
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Complete sham': Track plans spark protests at Optus Stadium
The Save Burswood Park Alliance has labelled recent community consultation about the Burswood racetrack a 'sham'. It claims the tender for the project was issued well before consultation had begun and closed before it had been completed. Hundreds of people attended community feedback sessions from last Thursday to Sunday, sharing their ideas and thoughts on the released plans for the new Perth entertainment and sporting precinct for Burswood Park. Your local paper, whenever you want it. A statement released by Save Burswood Park Alliance said the sessions were 'set up with only a basic 'cartoon' layout of the development and with government staff unable to answer targeted questions relating to track design and construction, noise modelling, and plant and animal surveys'. It said many people were agitated and vocal about the 'lack of information available'. Save Burswood Park Alliance co-chair Robin Harvey said Landsdale MLA Daniel Pastorelli, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, had attended all four sessions as the government's spokesman and in discussions about the racetrack he repeatedly said it was a non-negotiable part of the project. Protestors at a drop in session for the Entertainment and Sporting Precinct at Burswood Park. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian 'What is the point of community consultation when the community's main objection is dismissed like that?' Dr Harvey said. 'Real community consultation involves the community and all other stakeholders from the beginning. 'This V8 Supercars proposal was presented to us as a fait accompli. The consultation is clearly a complete sham.' Mr Pastorelli told PerthNow the program of consultation had been extensive and had welcomed discussions with all interested residents and relevant stakeholders. 'The drop-in sessions have been a key element of the consultation. The sessions were respectful and we received constructive and beneficial feedback,' he said. 'I have personally been undertaking a range of face-to-face meetings with residents and stakeholders including key community residents, which will continue over coming weeks. 'The community feedback is essential in informing the design and delivery of the new precinct.' Mr Pastorelli acknowledged some residents may have wanted more specific information but said the project was not yet at that stage. Part of the protest at the drop-in session for the entertainment and sporting precinct at Burswood Park. Credit: Riley Churchman / The West Australian 'We are currently in the consultation phase and detailed design is yet to be completed — noting a contract for design has not been awarded,' he said. 'The project team comprised of public servants do a remarkable job day-in-day-out and we thank those people who were respectful in their engagement with them at the drop-in sessions.' Mr Pastorelli said Indigenous consultation to help with design had started. 'Initial consultation has been held with the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council, and a cultural advisory group to provide cultural advice during design development will be established,' he said. Dr Harvey said the Alliance agreed with the project's planned landscape improvements and outdoor amphitheatre, although there were concerns about its scope and size. Protesters against the plans rallied at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon hoping to catch people attending an AFL game. Community consultation for the project will continue in the upcoming weeks.
National Post
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- National Post
Van Gisbergen's emotional win in Mexico City locks him into NASCAR playoffs
MEXICO CITY — Shane Van Gisbergen once again mastered a new track — this one the iconic Mexico City road course — to win NASCAR's first Cup Series points-paying race outside the United States of the modern era. Article content The New Zealander led 60 of 100 laps Sunday at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to earn his first Cup victory since he won in his NASCAR debut at the inaugural 2023 street course race in Chicago. That victory changed his career trajectory and Van Gisbergen left Australia V8 Supercars, where he was a multiple champion, for a full-time move to NASCAR. Article content Article content Although he had success in the Xfinity Series — he won three races last year as Trackhouse Racing developed him for a Cup Series ride — Van Gisbergen has struggled this year at NASCAR's top level. Article content He started the race ranked 33rd in the Cup standings with only one top-10 finish through the first 15 races of the season. But his victory in Mexico City earned him an automatic berth into NASCAR's playoffs with a shot to race for the Cup Series championship. Article content Van Gisbergen benefitted from an early pop-up rain shower on the first lap of the race because he's an exceptionally skilled driver on a wet surface. His win at Chicago was in monsoon-like conditions. Article content He won the pole in Mexico City and started the race as the BetMGM betting favourite, particularly since rain was in the forecast. He had to contend with several challengers, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing among them, but took the lead for good with 31 laps remaining. Article content Trackhouse now has two of its drivers — Ross Chastain and Van Gisbergen — locked into the playoffs. But it was a bit of a disappointment for Daniel Suarez, the Monterrey native who thrilled the hometown crowd with a win in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, as he failed to challenge his teammate for the win and finished 19th. Article content Article content Suarez, who appeared to be blinking back tears as he sang along with the Mexican national anthem in pre-race ceremonies, desperately wanted the home win in this contract year with Trackhouse. He was the face of this event as NASCAR ventured outside the U.S. with its top series for the first time since 1958. Article content Bell finished second in a Toyota for JGR — 16.567 seconds behind the winner. He was followed by Chase Elliott in a Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Alex Bowman, who hurt his back in a crash last week at Michigan, withstood the pain for a fourth-place finish in his Hendrick Chevrolet. Article content Michael McDowell of Spire Motorsports was fifth and followed by John Hunter Nemechek in a Toyota for Legacy Motor Club. Chase Briscoe of JGR was seventh and followed by Cole Custer for Haas Factory as the highest-finishing Ford driver. William Byron of Hendrick was ninth and Chris Buescher of RFK Racing rounded out the top 10.
