Mayor to officially re-open legendary lakeside

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor, Councillor Allan Sutherland, will officially re-open Queensland’s only Grand Prix motor racing circuit, Lakeside Park, at 12pm on Saturday, July 4.

Councillor Sutherland will join Queensland Raceways CEO – operator of Lakeside Park – in the ceremonial re-opening of the rejuvenated race circuit that is held dear in the hearts of motor racing fans Australia-wide.

Built in 1959/60 with its inaugural race meeting in March 1961, Lakeside International Raceway, as it was then known, grew to become one of the pre-eminent race-tracks in Australia. Unfortunately for fans and drivers alike, the operators of the circuit fell on hard financial times and the track was closed in 2001.

After lying dormant for several years the grand old circuit has been resurrected, with new operator Queensland Raceways spending several million dollars over the past twelve months on track and its surrounds.

The track itself has been resurfaced and widened with the entries and exits of several corners slightly altered for improved safety. Venue facilities have also been significantly upgraded, with a new ring road, under-track access tunnel, pit car-ports, driver’s briefing room, toilet blocks and grassed areas. A major upgrade has also been undertaken on the Lakeside Function Centre building, which now stands proud over the circuit, with its twin decks, café, level 2 function space and ground level motorsport museum (Queensland’s first full time motorsport museum).

Lakeside Park is now a key part of the Moreton Bay Regional Council Recreation Precinct and a major community asset.

Councillor Sutherland will perform the official opening at 12pm on Saturday, July 4, during the lunch break of round three of the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship.

Split over two weekends, due to the unprecedented interest of race drivers from around the nation, this stop on the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship will run as Round 3 on July 4 & 5 and Round 3A on July 11 & 12. Drivers from as far afield as Sydney in the south and Mackay in the north will pack the grid on both weekends.

The feature race of QRDC Round 3 is the Alfa Romeo East Coast Challenge. Now in its third year, this motorsport event saw the largest field of Alfa Romeos in our state’s history fill the grid at Queensland Raceways’ Ipswich circuit back in September 2007.

Other categories making up the bill for round three of the QRDC include Formula Ford, Sports Cars, Race Cars and the consistently entertaining Queensland Hire Karts Gemini Challenge.

Round 3A will feature the Australian Trans-Am Championship, HQ Ironfarmers Championship, Formula Vee, Future Racers and those ultimate daredevils the Queensland Sidecars.

Queensland Racing Drivers Championship – Round 3

Queensland Raceways, Lakeside Park – Lakeside Drive, Dakabin

Saturday, July 4 & Sunday July 5, 9am – 4pm

Saturday: morning qualifying, midday official opening and afternoon racing

Sunday: racing all day

Free entry for kids under 13, Adults are $10 on both days, payable at the gate

Press Release supplied by Media Hammer