[AshSimmonds]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24634246-29277,00.html

Gold Coast Indy motor race axed

THE Gold Coast's Indy car race has been axed after the Queensland Government and race bosses failed to reach an agreement on the event's future.

However, a motor racing carnival will still be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise next October, featuring V8 Supercars and a new event - the A1 Grand Prix series.

Queensland Sports Minister Judy Spence said the Government had opposed moves by the Indy Racing League to move the event from October to March.

"They have an expanded series of events and our Indy clashes with the early part of the American Football season," she said.

"Moving our race to March as they had requested was not an option due to the clash with the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne and the Clipsal V8 race in Adelaide.

"In addition a March race would have involved track construction right in the middle of January school holidays and we would not tolerate Gold Coast residents being inconvenienced in that way."

Premier Anna Bligh said Indy cars would instead be replaced by the A1GP series, in which teams are based on their nationality rather than their manufacturer.

The series, often marketed as the "World Cup of Motorsport", was launched in 2005 and currently includes teams from 23 countries.

A1GP drivers compete in identical vehicles, based on a Formula 1 Ferrari chassis, which are built to include technical restrictions to limit performance and keep competitors on a level playing field.

Ms Bligh said the Government had reached an in-principle agreement with with A1GP and expected contractual negotiations to be completed within the next week.

"The A1GP is a world-class racing series with an action packed race calendar that includes Great Britain, China, Mexico, Portugal, Malaysia, New Zealand, Indonesia, South Africa and The Netherlands," she said.

"As a result of this deal Queensland will now be a permanent fixture on the calendar as well.

"I am sure the A1GP will be a terrific attraction for both revheads and new fans to the world of motorsport."