Adelaide keen to ‘explore’ hosting the Australian GP

Although Melbourne has a contract to host the Australian Grand Prix through to 2023, Adelaide City Council is keen to “explore” the possibility of taking on the race.

Adelaide last hosted a Formula 1 grand prix back in 1995 before the race moved to the Albert Park circuit in Melbourne.

Adelaide, though, is keen to get it back.

According to The Advertiser, the Adelaide City Council has proposed writing to the South Australian State Government about exploring the possibility.

“There’s a certain nostalgia that the grand prix brings, and I think everyone in the room is old enough to remember the halcyon days so I’m glad that the council will write to the State Government and at least indicate that we’d like this explored,” Councillor Alex Antic told The Advertiser.

“We’d just like to see the State Government take the steps to see if it is viable and whether a pitch could be made.”

However, South Australian Tourism Minister Leon Bignell has already quashed the idea and labelled the Adelaide City Council “clowns.”

“These are the most infuriating people in South Australia, this city council,” said Bignell.

“If they want the grand prix, how about they put in some money so we can get the grandstands up a bit quicker, which will make their rate payers happy.

“Let’s have a look at Bathurst — their council put in $6 million in the [Supercars] race.

“These clowns put in $50,000 and charge us $100,000.

“They are big on complaining but not putting their hands in their pockets to help their ratepayers. We’re not interested.”

The current contract with the Australian Grand Prix Corporation to run the race in Melbourne runs until 2023.