Quote:
Originally Posted by D.R.T.
Commercial failure and losses? Anything that supports this claim?
Approx 150,000 odd spectators were reported to attend in 2000 which compares quite well to the Clipsal numbers.
According to Racerviews.com
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That's about half the size of the Clipsal crowd but compares OK for a one off event. Factor in the air freight costs, team accom costs etc that Clipsal doesn't have along with the sponsorship and corporates that Clipsal has but the 1000 year race didn't have (to the same extent) and it starts to add up.
Reports at the time in local media and directly from inside the organisation were for a circa $10 mill loss - much more than budgeted for. Quite where those could be found 16 years later would be a challenge no doubt.
In the meantime, here in 2016 it's getting rather warm in Western Sydney. Regular news item I've heard in radio news this morning has been that teams are planning to have some drivers in commercial fridges to cool them down with expected internal car temps as high as 70 deg.
There used to be an allowance in the rules to permit removal of the front perspex windows when the stewards declare it hot - if that rule is still there it may well get used this weekend.