BRISBANE Airport’s Auto Mall is charging ahead with the Mark Skaife-designed racetrack finalised as the centrepiece of the $100 million development, but gates are not expected to open until at least 2020.

The 2.7km test track, designed in conjunction with track designer iEDM, will differentiate the Brisbane Auto Mall from other automotive retailer precincts, including Essendon Fields, by allowing customers to test drive new vehicles in the confines of a dedicated race circuit.

Former V8 supercar and Bathurst 1000 champion Mark Skaife called the track a boon for drivers of all abilities to be able to test potential new vehicle purchases.

“Having the ability to test drive a new vehicle around a track is such a unique concept and something I am really excited to be a part of,” he said.

“This will be the benchmark in Australia for a safe test drive experience and will truly cater for a first drive P-plater through to a CAMS licence holder in a Ferrari or Porsche.

“One of the great aspects of the precinct is being able to drive a car straight from the showroom onto a purpose-built test track without having to wait at traffic lights and sit in congestion – you don’t even have to be a car fanatic to appreciate that.

“It’s a unique way for customers to try out a new vehicle and a great way for dealerships to really sell the features of their cars.”

Mr Skaife also said the track could be used for other automotive events alongside test drives of new cars.

“The test track offers a safe environment for driver training and education programs and can also be used for events such as car launches and car club activities,” he said.

“The precinct has huge potential for a range of uses, including a 4WD test track and skid pan that are both fully lit for night time operation.

“Having a range of dealerships and associated services at the one central precinct is just what Brisbane needs.”

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) general manager of commercial businesses John Tormey added that the circuit could even be used for club track days or private events.

“See, Sundays they don’t trade, so Sundays is a really good day to have an open track day,” he said. “Properly controlled, it can be done.”

The test track features multiple configurations, is 12 metres wide, and houses sections for off-roaders, a skidpan and a runway for zero to 100km/h and brake testing.

Although BNE Property, BAC’s real estate arm, is not divulging which manufacturers are looking to sign up to the new development, businesses are expected to transition from existing sites in the surrounding areas – including Fortitude Valley – to the airport site either with a dealership, service centre or satellite sites.

Mr Skaife said for the Auto Mall to succeed, it would need more than two thirds of automotive marques on board.

“John’s been saying from the start, we need to get roughly 70 per cent of the market,” he said. “It’s a little bit of the chicken or the egg, if you’ve got Toyota, you’ll get Mazda and you’ll get Nissan and you’ll get others, won’t you?”

Mr Skaife also said that car companies could take advantage of the Auto Mall’s facilities without opening fully fledged dealerships.

“Some car companies have this in their PMA map now, others don’t because the migration of dealerships out of Fortitude Valley and all that, this is not a PMA area,” he said.

“So a lot of them are saying we don’t want to incur a PMA issue. What might be best is to put an experience centre, or a drive centre or a zone office on the site and have people come a drive the cars and once they said ‘oh yeah I want to buy an i20’, send them to the dealer.

“Which in lots of ways works around the world like that.”

While billed as a new automotive retailing hub, Mr Tormey indicated there would be more to the Brisbane Auto Mall than just car dealerships.

“Flagship auto retailing will sit alongside brand experience centres, exhibition facilities and associated retail, all located round the Mark Skaife-designed test track,” he said.

“All industry feedback to date has confirmed that Brisbane Airport is the perfect location for a precinct like this because of its size, flexibility and extremely central location just 10km form the CBD.”

Mr Tormey mentioned the possibility of office buildings, a hotel, food and drink facilities and even a shopping centre, but reiterated that the first step would be the construction of the test track.

“I guess if we weren’t spending any money on the buildings at all, just for the circuit it would be circa-$100 million, just for the track and to build all the land development and the allotment,” he said.

Development will start on the 51.3-hectare site in 2017, with a three-year projected timeline.

By Tung Nguyen