REIGNING V8 Supercar champion Garth Tander has called on the West Australian government to explore the construction of a brand-new facility as one option to save the State’s round of the series.

The Toll Holden Racing Team driver, is the most successful circuit racer in the state’s history and firmly believes WA deserves its place on the V8 Supercar

calendar.

“As it stands right now, this is the second-last WA race,” he said.

“Not just for Barbagallo, but the second-last race in WA for the foreseeable future. Obviously that’s disappointing.

“To lift Barbagallo to a greater capacity for fans, to realign the pit lane and do what they need to do to get the garages on pit lane, it would cost a huge amount of money and it’s money the sporting car club over there doesn’t have.

“V8 Supercars want a street race (in Perth), but that’s only going to happen if the government supports it.

“As it stands right now, the government isn’t prepared to

support it, so it’s a very difficult

predicament.”

While upgrading the sub-standard

facilities at Barbagallo Raceway and a Perth street race have long been discussed, Tander said the feasibility of a new purpose-built facility deserved to be investigated.

“One option might be for the government to invest in a brand-new facility of an appropriate standard, and maybe we can keep Barbagallo as well to have two circuits over there,” he said.

“If the government isn’t prepared to spend money on a street circuit, are they prepared instead to spend that sort of money on a racing facility where suburbia’s not far away?

“That might be an option that hasn’t been looked at, perhaps we could look at extending the Barbagallo contract until that new facility is in place.

“There are many options that can be worked on, but it just comes down to a matter of funding.”