Work is underway on the Lexmark Indy 300 street circuit for the October 19 to 22 event, with this year’s construction schedule including a revamped spectator area in Surfers Paradise, a new pedestrian bridge and increased safety fencing.

Construction of the Lexmark Indy 300 circuit commenced with the ‘traditional’ positioning of the first pedestrian bridge at the northern end of the circuit crossing the Gold Coast Highway near Tedder Avenue, as well as preliminary work on Pit Buildings on Macintosh Island.

Ticket buyers will be buoyed by the news that this year’s construction schedule will also include some new and additional assets.

Fans will benefit from a new V8 Supercar merchandise area to be located in the Cypress Avenue car park precinct at the southern end of the track in Surfers Paradise.

This fan area will be supplemented by a go-kart track and a big screen to make it another major hub of entertainment.

Access to this V8 Supercar merchandise area will be streamlined with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge to cross over the race track from Cypress Avenue to the inside of the track.

Here there will be a range merchandisers, a showcase of Australian Defence Force artillery vehicles, equipment and recruitment displays, plus some new amenities to be finalised shortly.

Lexmark Indy 300 Chairman Terry Mackenroth said the new southern-end features would prove popular with fans.

“From the northern end of the circuit at Main Beach right through to the southern end at Surfers Paradise, there is something for everyone,” said Mackenroth.

“This new precinct will provide a range of entertainment options and be a hub for V8 Supercar merchandise. Access has been streamlined with a new pedestrian bridge linking this merchandise area with the inside of the track.

“This initiative supports our vision to grow the event, increase our spectator’s satisfaction with their event experience and provide something fresh and popular.”

Over the next two months leading into the Lexmark Indy 300, the construction schedule will include:

• 8 bridges;
• 2515 concrete barriers - four tonnes each. Delivered to the circuit six barriers a time on semi-trailers;
• 29 grandstands;
• 10km of debris fencing;
• 16km of security fencing placed;
• Approximately 100km of cabling and 6000 man hours of electrical reticulation required to install a.large-scale power and telecommunications system;
• Approximately 11,500 grandstand seats;
• Approximately 420 temporary structures - more than 100 hard-wall portable buildings are used for team and administration needs, approximately 190 temporary buildings are used for facilities including the event Media Centre, Medical sites, Merchandise Sales and Emergency Services, more than 140 corporate suites are furnished catering for groups of 10 to 70 people per day.

The Lexmark Indy 300 street circuit is an international leader in motor racing safety standards, and one of the major advancements over the past few years has been an increase in double height debris fencing.

This year there will be 1,157 panels of double height debris fencing positioned around the 4.47km circuit in high impact areas, 203 panels more than last year.

Lexmark Indy 300 Operations Manager David Bennett said the Gold Coast circuit has been acclaimed internationally and is used as a benchmark for new temporary street circuits world-wide.

“It is a significant achievement to convert a thriving and bustling commercial and recreational district into a motor racing circuit, able to facilitate more than 300,000 people and high-speed motor racing action,” said Bennett.

“This major undertaking involves cooperation and support from State Government, Gold Coast City Council, other State and Local Authorities, hundreds of contractors, residents and commuters.

“It is a very slick operation with minor disruptions to Gold Coast residents and commuters. Some disturbance is unavoidable but we are always striving to keep this to a minimum.”

Gold Coast based engineering company Hyder Weathered Howe has overseen the extensive building procedure since the first Event in 1991, annually reviewing, modifying and improving the plans to position the Lexmark Indy 300 as a world-leading circuit.

To facilitate the construction of the circuit, a traffic initiative introduced in 1999 will continue this year to reduce traffic delays.

Two traffic lanes will remain open on the Gold Coast Highway at all times with the speed limit on the southbound side reduced from 70km/h to 50km/h during the construction process.


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