Queensland Raceway (QR) will host two different motorsport sanctioning bodies in a single weekend, as Motorsport Australia (MA) and the Australian Auto Sport Alliance (AASA) join forces to run the AU4 season finale and support categories on September 25-27. This innovative move demonstrates flexibility and commitment to the racing community.
Background of the Venue Shift
AU4 was originally scheduled to hold its season finale at Sydney Motorsport Park earlier in September. However, financial hurdles put forward by the circuit left the category seeking an alternate venue. Queensland Raceway emerged as a viable option, especially since the venue already hosts major state-level events under AASA sanction. The decision was made to ensure drivers could complete their season without disruption.
Challenges and AASA Dynamics
Recently, AASA has faced turmoil, including the movement of several national categories to Motorsport Australia and the shuttering of its event promotion. Nevertheless, the spirit to continue supporting racing burns bright. QR circuit manager Josh McFarlane expressed confidence that the weekend will run smoothly with different personnel rotating through race control between sessions. "Basically when the AU4s go on track, it’s controlled by the Motorsport Australia approved officials," McFarlane told Speedcafe. "So they will run race control, the stewards will be there, and other forms of officiating for the event will be run under MA. Then as soon as AU4s are finished, they’ll move out of race control, and other parts of the area, and then AASA drops in."
Collaboration of Two Sanctioning Bodies
The ultimate goal for QR is to accommodate a category in need of a venue, insisting that MA and AASA officials rotating will not pose any issues to the event operations as long as key personnel cooperate. "It’s just trying to accommodate a category that didn’t have an opportunity to run their last round of their championship at another circuit," McFarlane added. "By doing this, it’s just achieving what they need, as well as trying to expand Queensland Raceway in forward thinking and trying to deliver multiple insurers on one weekend to achieve the main goal; getting drivers out and racing over the weekend and not missing out on events."
Safety First
McFarlane stressed that safety is paramount. "Safety is everything for us at Queensland Raceway, so as long as those boxes get ticked, the permits are in place and the right personnel are in place in those particular groups – meaning AASA and Motorsport Australia – then we have no problem with the event." This isn't the first time two governing bodies have shared the stage on a single weekend. QR has a long history of such collaboration, dating back to the circuit’s earliest days in 1999 with joint motorcycle and car (2+4) events. This continued as recently as the 2025 Ipswich Super440, which featured the Australian Superbike Championship on the support undercard.
Lineup and Live Stream
Round 4 of the QRDC on September 25-27 is set to feature Australian Trans Am, a Hot Hatch Cup Enduro, and the headline Nankang World Excel Enduro, with Supercars star Aaron Cameron confirmed in the lineup alongside Caleb Paterson. AU4 joins the fray hosting its season finale, with a blockbuster championship battle looming. Both Excels and AU4 will be livestreamed via the Queensland Raceway YouTube channel in conjunction with Blend Line TV.
With a spirit of collaboration and a focus on safety, this weekend exemplifies how two different entities can unite for the good of the sport. It also provides a breath of fresh air for AASA, which is currently navigating challenges, while reinforcing Queensland Raceway's position as an adaptable and inclusive circuit.
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