An economic return of around $2.8m is anticipated to be injected in Mount Gambier when it hosts the 2026 Sprintcar Control Council of Australia (SCCA) Australian Sprintcar Championships.
The SCCA is the governing body of sprintcar racing in Australia which selected the Borderline Speedway as the home of the 2026 Championship.
According to Mount Gambier City Mayor Lynette Martin, the two-day event is expected to attract around 20,000 visitors to the city, “making it the largest and most prestigious sprintcar event in Australia.”
At its October monthly meeting, City Council resolved to secure the event with a pre-allocation of $35,000 cash from its 2025-26 Grants and Sponsorship Program.
Community Events team leader Xarnia Keding tabled a report with the recommendation that council endorse the pre-allocation of funds.
However, she highlighted an implication of an “out of session allocation” sets a precedence for future allocations.
Scheduled to be held over two days, from January 30 to 31, Friday night will consist of qualifying heats and preliminary races followed by finals on Saturday.
Prior to the main events, practice sessions will take place on Thursday, as well as social events for the fans and participants.
Borderline Speedway is no stranger to this prestigious event, having hosted in 2018 and 1995.
The cash sponsorship requested will impact the Grants and Sponsorships Program for the Financial Year 2025-26 as part of a pre-allocation, however, is estimated to be within annual budget parameters.
The annual budget process for financial year 2025-26 is not endorsed until June 2025.
“Council administration has worked closely with event organisers in a short lead time to assess and ensure the capacity and viability of the event and that it is functional and achievable,” Ms Keding said.
“The visitor spend, and promotion of Mount Gambier will directly benefit our local economy.”
The city will further be promoted Australia wide when the event is livestreamed and televised on a live free to air platform.
Borderline Speedway president Cary Jennings said it is a big deal to put in a submission.
“It is a big deal the peers in the sprintcar world agree for us to host it and think we are capable of doing it,” he said.
“It will be an honour to bring the national title race back to the Blue Lake City.
“We have been involved in sprintcars for nearly 50 years.
“It is good for our city and the sprintcar fraternity in Mount Gambier and surrounding areas.”
Borderline Speedway submitted a strategic plan and budget to council for its consideration.
“Due to the positivity about and popularity of the Borderline Speedway, evident in social media comments about the venue, the championship event will and already is generating positive messages about Mount Gambier locally and across Australia,” Mr Jennings said.
“Based on the 2024 event held in Warrnambool, 80% of spectators will be intrastate and interstate visitors to Mount Gambier.
“The Borderline Speedway has demonstrated its capacity to successfully manage an event of this scale.”
Annually the Club holds eight regular meets between November to April, is the home of the King’s Sprintcar Challenge and has a long history of successfully hosting major events.
Other recent examples of major events hosted by the Borderline Speedway include the 2023 Australian Junior sedan Championships, 2021-2022 Australian Speedway Go-kart Championship, and State Championships for Wingless sprints and super sedans.
Other past events that have taken place at the include the Australian Super Sedan title, Supercross and monster trucks.
The Borderline Speedway anticipate a total income of around $485,000 from gate takings, sponsorship, catering, advertising and sales.
Taking into consideration expenses totalling around $311,500 from fees, insurances, entertainment, traffic management, the organisation anticipate a profit of around $173,500.
A total of $90,000 has been pledged to date from local businesses and Grant District Council.
