Eastern Creek is used by manufacturers for launches as well as for racing.

Sydney's Eastern Creek raceway could be converted into two separate tracks under bold plans to cope with industry demands.

While the Blacktown circuit is primarily seen as a raceway, it is really a multi-purpose facility on a 90ha site. As well as race weekend activities, car companies, tyre companies, parts suppliers, car clubs, drive-day organisations, driver trainers and media groups have booked the track out almost every week day for the past two years.

And organisers want to recreate Eastern Creek as a rock concert venue and use the natural amphitheatre facilities in turn one for activities such as monster truck and motocross events.

This week the circuit operators, the Australian Racing Drivers Club, commissioned one of the world's leading racetrack design companies to undertake a $350,000 study to create a masterplan for the future of the whole venue.

That includes doubling its current capacity for industry use and the ultimate dream of it becoming the new home of the Australian Formula One Grand Prix. British-based Apex Circuit Design, responsible for major motorsports developments in the Middle East, is to carry out the study. Apex has also overseen the redevelopment plan for the home of the British Grand Prix, the historic Silverstone circuit.

It is also involved in the Singapore F1 Grand Prix circuit, which will debut as the world's first night F1 race in September. It also designed and built the Dubai Autodrome and circuits in the US, Abu Dhabi, Russia and Iceland.

The ARDC holds a long-term lease on Eastern Creek from the NSW Government which owns the land. The study findings would be handed to the State Government for funding consideration.

“It's open slather in terms of the brief to the Apex Track Design people,” says ARDC spokesman Phil Harrison. “We are relying on the track designers to come up with potential plans and ideas. At this stage we don't have any preconceived ideas. The track designers have the entire venue to play with. I expect they'll combine some new sections with the current track.”

Harrison says the track is almost fully booked for industry activities and racing this year, with only three vacant days until December 20.

The situation will become critical by 2010 when the closure of the Oran Park circuit at Narellan will leave Eastern Creek as Sydney's only motorsport track facility.

Creating two separate circuits would involve major works at the venue, but it would solve much of the capacity problem.

Harrison says each track would have to comply with safety requirements, have its own control towers and adequate-length main straights.

It would be expected the two tracks could be linked for major race meetings to create one longer track. The circuit is not long enough, and the main straight not long enough, for an F1 race.

Eastern Creek was built in 1990 to host the Australian grand prix round of the world motorcycle championships. Since then it has

had a mixed history, losing the bike race back

to Phillip Island, but picking up the A1GP international series for the past three years

and hosting the popular V8 Supercar events.

However, the layout of the track, with the pits complex and Corporate Hill in the middle of the track blocking spectator views, particularly from the grandstand, has drawn plenty of criticism.

The time has now come for a re-think of the entire venue. Harrison says the 18-year-old track will need resurfacing within the next two years.

“Times change ... not too many people have an 18-year-old kitchen,” he says.

ARDC president John Cotter says the study will be an essential first step in plans to ensure that Australia remains relevant in world motorsport.

“Equally, there is a real need to ensure that Sydney is well serviced with a motoring and motorsports complex to meet local needs, including driver education, track days and motor industry development requirements,” he says.

Cotter says revamping the Eastern Creek permanent facility will be better than creating a street track such as that proposed for Homebush by the V8 Supercar organisers.

“There has been some talk of persuading the NSW Government to spend substantial money on a non-permanent street circuit less than 20km from Eastern Creek Raceway, a model similar to that of Melbourne's Albert Park F1 track and the Surfers Paradise Indy Car track,” he says.

“Both are used only once a year, with large set-up and deconstruction costs.

“The ARDC believes a permanent motorsport complex would be a far more cost-effective proposition, and would be far more useful.

“It would have all of the upsides of tourism

and excitement combined with the value benefit of year-round use.”

The study will be completed later this year.