V8 Supercars boss Tony Cochrane has revealed his plan to bring Kylie Minogue and Coldplay to Sydney to launch a proposed $30 million Homebush street race.

 

As debate continues to rage about the environmental impact of the event, Cochrane last night promised to deliver Sydney a "truly international entertainment spectacular".

 

"We will scour the globe to find a major international act to perform at the event," Cochrane said. "We'll talk to everybody from Kylie Minogue to Coldplay."

 

With Melbourne laying claim to being Australia's sporting capital with events such as the Australian Open and the Formula One Grand Prix, Cochrane said a Sydney street race would put the harbour city back on the map.

 

"NSW wants to have a premium sport, and here it the opportunity," Cochrane said. "The event would bring thousands of international guests and an economic benefit in excess of $30 million a year to the state. We will have a big show. We want to make it Sydney's biggest party. We have nothing locked away yet but we will get on the phone as soon as we get the green light."

 

The powerful V8 Supercars chairman accused environment groups of "emotional blackmail" as the future of an endangered frog threatens to derail the race. Cochrane claimed "uninformed" green groups were attempting to bring down the ambitious bid to bring the "world class event" to Sydney. Total Environment campaigner Leigh Marin yesterday said the event could endanger Homebush's rare bell frog population - a claim Cochrane declared was "ridiculous".

 

"They are incredibly poorly informed." Cochrane said. "But for the most part they don't want to be. They just are incredibly negative people. If they did some research they would see that we are at the forefront of running green programs. The frog population near Olympic park is well protected. That was something that was taken care of nine years ago when the site was developed. No one can get access into that area. It has never been an issue and it won't be. This is emotional blackmail. Enormous steps are in place to ensure the frogs survival."

 

Cochrane hit-back at claims the race would produce harmful emissions, revealing all Supercars used a fuel blend with an 85 per cent ethanol content. "It produces next to no emissions," Cochrane said. "We are using a completely renewable source of energy for our fuel next year and massively reducing our emissions. Ethanol is produced from Australian sugar cane and that is what we will be using."

 

Cochrane said the popular sport left a "zero carbon footprint". "We already plant 18,000 trees a year to off-set our carbon footprint," Cochrane said.

 

"We do it because we run it through our school program. We don't have to do it but we do because we believe educating people about the environment is of the upmost importance. We have made a commitment at Olympic park to replant three trees for everyone we take out. The trees that need to go are quit small. Typically no more than three inches in diameter. We can move most of them but we replace whatever is lost.'

 

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23969414-5001021,00.html

I don't think Coldplay would ever consider doing this :dozey:

I don't think Coldplay would ever consider doing this :dozey:

 

Neither do I. If they support anything, it should be a marathon or something like that.;)

Guy is a racing fan so who knows.

most people here are very upset about this plan for starters so getting two massive acts to open it might get people onside. but personally i feel that motor racing does not belong at homebush

"or such is intended"