Taupo, NZL, want to renew race contract for season five.

The internationally rated track is destined to host the fourth round of this year’s A1GP competition on January 25.

It will be the third and final year of Taupo’s contract with A1GP organisers.

Taupo Motorsport Park manager David Steele said track officials were keen to continue holding the race meeting when the present contract arrangements ended in January.

“We’d like to secure an early November date for the 2009-10 series possibly slotted in two weeks after the Gold Coast round.”

Gold Coast has been chosen to host an A1GP round for the first time in the 2009-10 series.

If successful, it would mean Taupo would host two A1GPs within 12 months, a big coup for the track, and for Taupo.

“We’re very keen to see it happen and will be doing everything we can to get the race back to Taupo.”

The first two A1GP races in 2007 and 2008 were estimated to have added $70 million each to the local economy, although the privately owned track itself is in debt.

Mr Steele said much would depend on the public supporting the January 25 A1GP meeting.

“If we can get a capacity 30,000 crowd to the January race and show the A1GP organisers we support the race, we will have a better chance of getting host rights to the following series in 2009.”

Mr Steele said a November date would better suit Taupo.

It would be outside the main holiday season and would not conflict with other activities on a busy tourist calendar.

Mr Steele said dust that had been a problem on the track in previous years had been overcome after extensive regrassing of the track infield.

[source: stuff.co.nz]