A Marshall Liberal Government will transform South Australia into the home of motor sports by adding a second V8 Supercar event and establishing two distinct motor sport seasons that will attract tourists, create jobs and grow the State’s economy.

“A Marshall Liberal Government will bid for a second V8 Supercar event to be held in a regional location and build two distinct motor sport seasons around the two V8 events,” said State Liberal Leader Steven Marshall.

“The two motor sport seasons will encompass both V8 Supercar races, other motor sport events, touring cars, vintage vehicle auctions and classic car meets to secure pole position for South Australia in the race for the tourist dollars of motor sport enthusiasts.

“Hosting the Clipsal 500 – the official kick-off to the V8 season – has raised South Australia’s motor sport profile and we want to build on this success by attracting an additional V8 race to South Australia, centered on the proposed Tailem Bend motor sport precinct.

“A Marshall Liberal Government will also commit $200,000 to a scoping study and cost benefit analysis assessing how to extend and tailor a year-long motor sports calendar, focussed around two distinct motor sport seasons.

“We will develop a comprehensive motor sport and classic car calendar centered around our two premier V8 Supercar events to leverage maximum tourist numbers from overseas, interstate and intrastate.

“South Australia’s established motor sport events and facilities can be better promoted and we will work with the Tourism Commission to ensure the best possible coverage for our events.

“We will examine building the existing Targa Adelaide and Bay to Birdwood events around the enhanced V8 Supercar events to encourage a greater number of interstate fans and to extend their length of stay.”

Shadow Minister for Tourism David Ridgway said that classic car club rallies in the United States attracted many thousands of tourists with packaged food, wine and accommodation deals tailor-made for tourists.

“South Australia could offer similar deals for Australian vintage and classic car enthusiasts,” said Mr Ridgway.

“This proposal will attract tourists, create jobs and grow South Australia’s economy after 12 long years of Premier Weatherill and Labor.”

Liberal Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick is fully supportive of a potential V8 Supercar event at Tailem Bend.

"This would be a great event for regional South Australia, the people of Tailem Bend and the Hammond electorate," said Mr Pederick.

"The Tailem Bend Motor Sport Park has the potential to be an outstanding venue for a second V8 Supercar event.

"The flow on impacts for Hammond from this proposal would be enormous with regards to tourism revenue and jobs creation."