South East Queensland could soon get another circuit for motorcycle track days and possibly even national and international motorcycle racing.
The Queensland Government has confirmed $40 million in funding toward a privately owned $230 track and entertainment centre in Toowoomba, 100km west of Brisbane.
The track has been designed with the help of five-time World motorcycle champion Mick Doohan and is expected to be up to international standard.
No doubt with Mick’s expert input it will be a great circuit for rider track days.
Hopefully it will be more interesting than the Queensland Raceway or “paperclip”.
SEQ riders also have access to the Morgan Park track at Warwick and the Lakeside Raceway in north Brisbane.
The new track will be built on flat ground next to the Wellcamp Airport, Australia’s first privately-funded public airport and the first public airport to be built in 50 years.
The precinct is owned by the Wagner family whose company is the largest independently owned cement and building materials manufacturer in south-east Queensland.
Additions to the airport, next to the new bypass west of the Darling Downs city, will include a motorsport circuit, off-road track and entertainment precinct with accommodation for 5000 and a performing arts venue to seat 40,000.
Apart from facilitating motorsport events, it will host track days and rider/driver training.
The racetrack was drawn up by engineering firm IEDM with input from former Supercars champion Mark Skaife and is expected to host a round of the series.
Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner says they are “keen to start construction early next year to help kick-start the economy post Covid-19.”
The project is expected to support 130 jobs during construction and up to 2500 jobs when operational.