Bunbury International Circuit is go!

[Nivola]

Hi everyone just did some surfing and found this!

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~New...~id~143539.htm

[Denosaur]

That's some good news, but I'm sorry to say, but if that's the final layout for the circuit in that photo from the launch, it's just another QLD raceway paperclip, but with an abnormality.

[mabs_nsx]

There's a new pimm website. This is going be be cool!!! Super GT, Formula Nippon, AFOS, FIA GT and GP Masters

[davester]

Has their been any final development approvals or project financing put in place?

I hate to say it but it sounds like every other previous release, pretty much a wish list without the sustantial proof that the project has ticked any of the necessary boxes to begin construction. All this release does is state that certain series' will race here, if the track is in place. I suspect the announcement is just a tool to encourage new investors into the project.

Good luck getting this off the ground, but I am concerned that there isn't any juicy info available about deals to actually get the infrastructure in place (land acquisition, development approvals, construction contracts, financing). There appear to be plenty of people nodding their heads and in-principle agreements, but who has actually signed-off on anything yet?

I hope it goes ahead, but somehow I just think those who'll be required to cough up the money are yet to be convinced they'll get a return, and those who've put money up already are just seeing their investment diminish into thin air as that cash has, um, well gone.

I would have thought that given the lengthy delays in getting this off the ground, that PIMM would have taken this Asian Series package to an existing circuit in the interim, and got the cash rolling in. Surely if the series package which totally dominates most releases is viable, then the location isn't totally critical (F1, WRC, V8SC all manage event relocation).

Overall, great concept, questionable location, extremely difficult to execute when you are relying on finance from others and the income stream is full of contingent outcomes.

[XW GT]

Just received a press release from CAMS saying that they are "unaware of plans to bring international events to bunbury circuit" They also say that they have been in contact with their Japanese equivalent body (JAF) which confirm that they've been in contact with the management of both Formula Nippon and the Japanese Super GT series to ensure that they have no intention of running their events in WA outside of the FIA's international authority.
"At this stage, CAMS has received no correspondence from PIMM regarding the proposed events"

[Matthew Ronke]

http://www.cams.com.au/content.asp?P...e&ObjectID=855

"Any legitimate international competition within Australia can only be organised under the auspices of the FIA and in this case, through their sole delegated authority for motor sport in Australia, CAMS," said Bob Glindemann, Acting Chief Executive Officer of CAMS.

The words, a new Challange come to mind.

[davester]

I guess CAMS wouldn't be invited to inspect the circuit until there is one.

Anyone got actual recent pics of the site and it's progress?

PIMM maybe?

In regard to PIMM going alone without CAMS, I reckon they could achieve this...but with the sanctioning of CAMS and its resources why would you want to?

Pay CAMS the fee, get the rubber stamp, get on with racing...enough delays already.

[cavvy]

Originally Posted by Nivola

Hi everyone just did some surfing and found this!

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~New...~id~143539.htm

Hasnt the circuit been named after Bob Jane & will be AASA affilated, not CAMS?

Has a sod been turned?

Nivola, has Simon Emmerling recovered from the bingle in Schnitzer 635 V8?

[StuiE]

I'm still not sure it will happen...


and if it does, why would Super GT and FNippon want to come? it's 2hrs from Perth and those series don't relate with the majority of boofheads (unfortunatly). If it does happen, crowds will be low and it won't last long.

You heard it here first

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by XW GT

Just received a press release from CAMS saying that they are "unaware of plans to bring international events to bunbury circuit" They also say that they have been in contact with their Japanese equivalent body (JAF) which confirm that they've been in contact with the management of both Formula Nippon and the Japanese Super GT series to ensure that they have no intention of running their events in WA outside of the FIA's international authority.
"At this stage, CAMS has received no correspondence from PIMM regarding the proposed events"

Well-- if Cams say they no nothing about it isn't happening--right?

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by davester

I guess CAMS wouldn't be invited to inspect the circuit until there is one.

Anyone got actual recent pics of the site and it's progress?

PIMM maybe?

In regard to PIMM going alone without CAMS, I reckon they could achieve this...but with the sanctioning of CAMS and its resources why would you want to?

Pay CAMS the fee, get the rubber stamp, get on with racing...enough delays already.

There are alternatives-- why would you bother with Cams?

[Silver 3]

Originally Posted by cavvy

Hasnt the circuit been named after Bob Jane & will be AASA affilated, not CAMS?

V8?

Where did you get that from?

[MCWB]

Google cached link.

[mac]

Exciting news - but...

Not sure how many Perth locals would be willing to drive two and a half hours south to attend.

[B24]

OK, outside of the politics of who runs what, is the track and or the surrounding industrial infrastructure being constructed?
Can somebody in Perth provide some picures or feedbackfrom the local community?

Cheers

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by StuiE

I'm still not sure it will happen...
and if it does, why would Super GT and FNippon want to come? it's 2hrs from Perth and those series don't relate with the majority of boofheads (unfortunatly). If it does happen, crowds will be low and it won't last long.

You heard it here first

Despite the CAMS release rest assured that at least Super GT do want to come. In fact one of their representitives is in Perth as we speak working on a round for 2009.
They see no problem in CAMS not recognising the track or the event and have 100% faith in AASA and the team behind Bunbury.
If CAMS Japanese counterparts are saying it wont happen then they're as out of touch as CAMS is.
Rest assured if the track is built, and it's still a very big if. There will be at least a Super GT race there. Plus other Asian/Pacific events probably.
Super GT are very interested in expanding hence the Malaysian round and the fact that we'll be hopefully soon running extended highlights of the series on In Pit Lane.

[kosher_pig]

CAMS media release of ! March 2007 says track has no FIA approval and they still keep saying that any legitimate international competition within Australia can only be organised under the auspices of the FIA and thru thier sole delegate for motorsport in Australia........CAMS..............SO in that case how come AASA ran the Classic Adelaide..a well known INTERNATIONAL motorsport event?????

[inpitlane]

Originally Posted by kosher_pig

CAMS media release of ! March 2007 says track has no FIA approval and they still keep saying that any legitimate international competition within Australia can only be organised under the auspices of the FIA and thru thier sole delegate for motorsport in Australia........CAMS..............SO in that case how come AASA ran the Classic Adelaide..a well known INTERNATIONAL motorsport event?????

Add to that at least the first Gold Coast indy which ran under Auscar sanctioning. having said that, the Bunbury website is claiming that the circuit will be FIA approved. Without CAMS there's no way that'll happen. They're also saying they want a round of the FIA GT again without CAMS it can't happen.
They're also saying that their first International race will be this December. In Malaysia they're reporting it as being the Asian Festival of Speed, but their calendar shows nothing.

[St00ge]

I said it before and will say it again this track will never be built.

[StuiE]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

Despite the CAMS release rest assured that at least Super GT do want to come. In fact one of their representitives is in Perth as we speak working on a round for 2009.
They see no problem in CAMS not recognising the track or the event and have 100% faith in AASA and the team behind Bunbury.
If CAMS Japanese counterparts are saying it wont happen then they're as out of touch as CAMS is.
Rest assured if the track is built, and it's still a very big if. There will be at least a Super GT race there. Plus other Asian/Pacific events probably.
Super GT are very interested in expanding hence the Malaysian round and the fact that we'll be hopefully soon running extended highlights of the series on In Pit Lane.

I agree, IF (and that's a big if) it does get built, I thinkg Super GT will come, but it won't come again after the first time round IMO, unless they are contractually obliged to for x amount of years.

IF the building is going ahead, I dont' think it will be done by dec either, there is a massive skills shortage in WA and damn near everything takes forever to get built. A car wash at my work that was meant to take a week or 2 has taken 2 months so far and isn't done...

[Falcadore]

Originally Posted by inpitlane

Add to that at least the first Gold Coast indy...

That's stretching it and then some. Champ Car as a USA based series, has only a token association with the FIA back in 1991. FIA's rep in the US, the SCCA is essentially toothless and is associated with club level events for the most part. Even today its only series of any note is ALMS.

Champ Car is a little different now, with so many more non-USA events on their calednar but back in 1991 the Gold Coast was the only one.

Japan is quite a different kettle of fish.

[JABWOA]

Well, WA *could* suceed (sp?) from Australia, become it's own country and appoint itself an ASN (thier own or another organisation).

[chavez]

Originally Posted by Falcadore

That's stretching it and then some. Champ Car as a USA based series, has only a token association with the FIA back in 1991. FIA's rep in the US, the SCCA is essentially toothless and is associated with club level events for the most part. Even today its only series of any note is ALMS.

Champ Car is a little different now, with so many more non-USA events on their calednar but back in 1991 the Gold Coast was the only one.

Japan is quite a different kettle of fish.

But at the time weren't there threats from CAMS that if any CAMS licenced drivers raced in any of the support events then they would be banned from racing in Australia?

It never happened, of course, but it caused some heartache at the time.

After the efforts of the NASCAR and AUSCAR drivers that weekend it is doubtful that they deserved a CAMS licence.

[Falcadore]

Originally Posted by chavez

But at the time weren't there threats from CAMS that if any CAMS licenced drivers raced in any of the support events then they would be banned from racing in Australia?

It never happened, of course, but it caused some heartache at the time.

After the efforts of the NASCAR and AUSCAR drivers that weekend it is doubtful that they deserved a CAMS licence.

Well it kind of did, not neccessarily for the drivers, protected as they were by their public profile but I have been told there was retribution against officials.

But CAMS threatening drivers was largely irrelevant to the point that Champ Car did not subscribe to an ASN so did not need to comply with CAMS or the FIA and I do not believe IPL's comparison to be valid. Essentially the US is de-regulated.

What is a more valid comparison is AJGT have staged a race in recent times at Laguna Seca. If that was done outside the auspicies of the SCCA then that could explain why they might not see the need to comply with CAMS. Does anyone know if the Laguna Seca event was held with the approval of the US ASN?

If Bunbury was to go directly to the FIA for circuit approval without talking to CAMS, would the FIA support CAMS or would they not care about local politics? The most senior australian official internationally is Garry Connelly, a rallyman, a branch of the sport where the politics of CAMS vs AASA does not exist as AASA has no interest in Rallying. When the various French or Belgian or Italian official that is contacted by Bunbury goes to Connelly to ask about this situation, will he have CAMS's back?

Questions questions questions...

[Camaroz]

Please keep in mind that the FIA do not place a "limit" of one ASN per Country. My information is that in the US of A there are five ASN's and they all co-operate and work through a single (elected) delegate!

AASA will be the second in this country and by 2008, VESCE will be the third!!!!!