Tasmania’s Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council and Member for Hobart Doug Parkinson today joined V8 Supercar Championship Series greats Mark Skaife and Craig Lowndes to launch the Falken Tasmania Challenge to be held at Symmons Plains later this year.

He also launched V8 Supercars Australia’s latest community service program, V8 Supersafe, in conjunction with the Falken Tasmania Challenge, November 21-23.

Mr Parkinson praised the initiative of V8 Supercars Australia in implementing a program that will compliment other key road safety messages received by young people.

“Through the development of the V8 Supersafe, V8 Supercars Australia has recognised its responsibility to the community to educate young people on Road Safety and Young Driver Training,” he said.

“This Government applauds their initiative in developing an education focussed program that highlights the importance of safety, positive choices and making the distinction between professional racecar drivers and the everyday road user.”

Mr Parkinson said the program was just as relevant in Tasmania as it was in the rest of the country.

“On average, between 1996 and 2005, road users under the age of 25 comprised over one third of all serious casualties in Tasmania.  This age group also represents the largest group of road user serious casualties. These are frightening statistics,” he said.

“The Tasmanian Government is extremely committed to road safety and driver education.  It therefore gives me great pleasure to be joining you today to launch this superb initiative aimed at reducing the loss of our young people on Tasmania’s roads.”

V8 Supercars Australia Chairman Tony Cochrane said the Falken Tasmania Challenge and V8 Supersafe were key events within the sport and it was an honour to bring both to Tasmania.

“As a sport we have the best group of highly skilled drivers in this country. There are few more capable people behind the wheel than the likes of Craig Lowndes and Mark Skaife,” Mr Cochrane said.

“These drivers know exactly how to drive and stay in control – it’s their very livelihood. And unlike when our young people are on the roads they compete in an environment that is very controlled and far safer than an open highway, country road or a busy city street.

“We believe for these very reasons that we have a major part to play and an important message to deliver in helping young people to stay in control on the roads.

“This message is also important in Tasmania where the Falken Tasmania Challenge is also such a huge event – the single largest sporting event in the state in fact. We are proud of the Tasmanian round which completes our national status and of V8 Supersafe which is also to be rolled out across the country.”

Lowndes is acting as one ambassador for the program along with racing great Dick Johnson. Co-ambassadors Shane Van Gisbergen, 19, and Shane Price, 21, can easily identify with the issues facing young people when they tackle the streets for the first time and are also acting as ambassadors.

V8 Supersafe was designed by V8 Supercars Australia after extensive research and discussions with the relevant motoring bodies, education departments and Government agencies.

It is an education focused program highlighting the importance of safe driving practices, reasoned risk taking and positive choices, conducted by an education officer with an extensive teaching background appointed specifically to run the program.

V8 Supersafe will target year 10, 11 and 12 students throughout Australia. The workshops developed have been based upon thorough research and have been individually designed to compliment the specific road safety messages unique to each state and territory in Australia. 

The workshops include strategies to empower students in decision making, reasoned risk taking, effective communication and understanding the potential consequences of action.

All workshops and presentations are FREE OF CHARGE and fully funded by V8 Supercars Australia as a community service program and will also appear at the track during Student Free Friday on November 21.