Labor revs up the motorsport vote

LABOR hopes its latest election commitment will rev the engines of motorsport voters, committing $7.4 million in funding and grants towards the sport.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Sports Minister John Eren visited the Geelong Motorsport
Complex at Avalon last week to announce that, if re-elected, Labor would invest $5 million for a Motor Sports Upgrades and Equipment Fund, providing grants of up to $500,000 to upgrade tracks and buy new equipment.

The fund will help transform racetracks across Victoria to improve safety with new barriers, and provide more facilities and amenities.

Labor will also provide $2.4 million in grants to support motor sport clubs so they can run bigger and better events.

The investment includes $300,000 in Ricciardo’s Racers, a junior driver development program teaching 12 to 17 year-olds the fundamental skills needed to drive and to race safely; and $300,000 to help expand the Dare to Be Different program, which gives girls and young women the chance to get involved in the sport, through karting, pit stop challenges and driving simulators.

“We know the cost of upgrading Victoria’s racetracks can be expensive, that’s why we’re helping these clubs to grow for the future,” Mr Andrews said.

“We’ve always wanted to get more young people involved in motor sport, and this investment will go a long way to helping us find the next Daniel Ricciardo.”

He said the Geelong Motorsport Complex would be the first club to receive a grant from the Motor Sports Upgrades and Equipment Fund. Secretary of the complex’s committee of management Graham Harrison welcomed the commitment, which would go towards the club’s $3 million plan to relocate.

“To raise funds at a club level with all volunteers is very, very difficult. Being able to find $500,000 and take it to the next step, we need all the help we can get.”