SELL OUT CROWD AT THE BEND

The South Australian and travelling public officially sold out the opening day of the Dragway at The Bend Grand Opening Spring Nationals on October 23, with a capacity crowd of 20,532.

The Spring Nats featured more than 350 entrants and marked the first major event for the Shell V-Power Motorsport Parks Dragway. The grand opening not only saw elite-level drag racing come back to SA for the first time in years, but also countless incredible performances, in particular from the six 11,000 horsepower Top Fuel dragsters. They delivered pass after impressive pass for the fans, including 13 three second passes and five side-by-side ‘threes’, with six of those three second passes run at more than 500kph. It marks an impressive start for the NDRC (National Drag Racing Championship) season.

“The South Australian Drag Racing Community have waited 20 years for this day and we are incredibly proud to have delivered on our promise of a world class facility in our home state,” said Manging Director, Sam Shanin. “The Bend will play an instrumental part in the growth of Drag Racing in Australia and this historic day is just the beginning.”

Developed and primarily funded by the Peregrine Corporation, South Australia’s largest private company, construction started on The Bend in November 2016 with the main motor racing circuit completed in April 2018. The Bend is unique in having all motorsport disciplines ‘through the one gate’, including circuit racing for cars and motorcycles, Australia’s only purpose-built drift circuit; a karting circuit; a rally-cross circuit; driver training facilities; a 4WD adventure park and a rally/off-road facility. An international Group 1 dragway and airstrip for light aircraft are also part of the master plan for future stages of development.

The Bend Motorsport Park can be found at 543 Dukes Highway, Tallum Bend, around 100km south east of Adelaide city, or online at www.thebend.com.au