Despite more bad financial news out of the A1GP race series, local race organisers remain bullish just six months out from the inaugural event on the Gold Coast.

News broke last week that the A1GP’s British team, Team GBR, had gone into administration, forcing the series to assemble a makeshift squad to run the car at a recent race in Portugal.

It came on top of persistent rumours about the financial health of the international race series.

But SuperGP general manager Greg Hooton told The Bulletin prospects for the Coast race in October could not be healthier, with sponsorship and ticket sales tracking along with last year’s efforts and a wider range of sponsors to target.

Mr Hooton said tickets went on sale about three weeks ago, with the first mail-out to ‘priority’ clients faring as well as it did in 2007 and 2008.

“The pleasing part is people who have traditionally come to the (Indy/IRL) event will be coming back,” said Mr Hooton.

And despite the sponsorship turmoil hitting other sports worldwide, particularly motorsports, support for the Coast’s SuperGP was ahead of schedule, he said.

Helensvale-based energy drink company Nitro Energy Drinks signed up as the race’s naming rights sponsor last month in a three-year deal thought to be worth more than $1 million in 2009 alone.

“Getting Nitro on so early, we are ahead of where we were compared with last year,” said Mr Hooton. “And sponsorship overall is up on the same time last year, which in the current market is exceptionally pleasing.”

Many of the mainstays, such as Conrad Jupiters, Falken tyres, Strategic Aviation and XXXX, will return in 2009. As for the rumours regarding the financial health of the A1GP, Mr Hooton said he was getting on with the job of running the Coast race.

“I’m ignoring all that talk,” he said. “Motorsport is a sport that is always rife with rumours. I am dealing with A1GP every second day and as far as I am concerned, it’s full steam ahead.”

Another motorsport source reckoned the Coast race was as safe as houses, as A1GP was determined to go all out for the reincarnation of its presence in Australia, which would mark the fifth year of racing for the A1GP worldwide.

V8 SuperCars boss Tony Cochrane said all sponsors for the V8 race had been locked in for some time and that his series had even picked up new sponsors.

The next offer of general admission tickets is now on sale.

[source: goldcoast.com.au]