For many, the rumble of the Clipsal can still be heard from last year. Or is that the sound of the 2017 Clipsal we hear coming?
Regardless, the new television campaign unveiled this week is all about the ‘Motor Beast’ being unleashed. If you haven’t spied it, get ready for a months of computer generated animation, shape shifting the cars into snarling animalistic beasts, a bit like transformers but not without the over-bloated Michael Bay special effects and Megan Fox’s blank expression.
So, the short of it all is that Clipsal is on the way back, and while we were already pretty keen on the concerts (Hunters & Collectors reforming anyone?) Tourism Minister Leon Bignell is keen for us to get excited about the cars as well. With Adelaide’s announcement by Lonely Planet as one of the top five places in the world to visit in 2017, draw card events such as this are a big part of the breadth of our appeal, nestling alongside our arts season, cultural events, landscapes, food and wine. And don’t we just love seeing it all at the same time…
“We are continuing to revolutionise motorsport on and off the circuit, offering a huge field of international competitors and new race categories, in addition to home grown artists who have defined the Australian music,” Bignell stated at the campaign launch. “In 2016, Clipsal 500 Adelaide attracted more than 263,000 spectators, generating a huge $65.6 million in expenditure. These numbers further comment Clipsal 500 Adelaide reputation as Australia’s biggest domestic motorsport event, and we want to make it more successful each year.”
2017 will see the return of two 250km races, as well as seven other categories such as the Porsche Carrera Cup, Stadium Super Trucks, Dunlop Development Series, the prestigious Australian GT Championship (some of the cars competing are worth up to $15 million), Lamborghini Huracans, Touring Car Masters, Pocket Rocket Aussie Racing Cars and for the first time ever Improved Production Racing.
As usual heaps of festivities will take place off the track, there will be an incredibly hyped and adrenaline inducing world exclusive collision of Enduro-X and Supercross, and on a course twice as big as last year with bike riders set to battle a new hell-like obstacle courses, which will make for a massive spectacle.
Automotive exhibitions for any car lover will include the 50th anniversary of Chevrolet Camaro, and Jaguars being built in Australia on display. And in the main race South Australian lad Nick Percat is set to link up with Brad Jones Racing to compete on the 2017 Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. It’s always nice to cheer a local and Percat is very excited to be racing on home tarmac. “All eight categories will be more competitive than ever and being the first race on the calendar it makes things much more competitive,” he said. “I’ll be hoping for another win at my hometown event.”
Every year they say Clipsal is going to be the biggest ever. For 2017 that definitely seems on the cards. Make sure to pop March 2nd-5th in your calendar. Tickets are currently on sale and will be frozen at 2016 rates till the first of February. So why not grab your tickets in advance now here?!
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