4x4 Adventure Park at Tailem Bend due for January 2018 completion

BEND Motorsport Park, an hours’ drive southeast of Adelaide at Tailem Bend, is on track for an early 2018 opening.

This isn’t just any motorsport park, though, as it’s also relevant to four-wheelers who prefers dirt instead of tarmac. How? Well, the park will feature a permanent 4x4 Adventure Park and off-road facility.

The 80-hectare 4x4 Adventure Park will run through an existing quarry and will utilise already-present undulating tracks including rock obstacles, steep inclines and descents, camber sections, water obstacles, and sand trails. 4WD training will also be provided.

Speaking to MOTOR magazine, development manager at Tailem Bend Motorsport Park, Paul Trengove, said a January 2018 completion date is expected for the 4WD Park.

In December, 2016, construction was announced for a 7.7km racing circuit to be installed at the park, a site that was formerly the home of Mitsubishi Australia’s test track.

Expected to be a tourist drawcard, the project received a $7.5 million injection from the SA State Government.

SA’s Premier Jay Weatherill said at the time: “An independent economic study has shown that once fully developed, The Bend is projected to create 1631 full-time jobs and its economic impact to the state is likely to be $236 million in Gross State Product annually, attracting 339,000 extra visitors to the region.”

In addition to the 4WD facilities, Bend Motorsport Park will feature a pit building, hotel and conference facilities, a purpose-built drift and karting circuit, an international Group 1 dragway, driver training facilities and, of course, the 7.7km racing circuit.