Gold Coast savours Supercars return with record crowd
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 2 November 2022
Having been longing for the sight of Supercars for three years, a crowd of more than 200,000 people stacked the Surfers Paradise street circuit last weekend.
A record crowd of 200,232 has packed in to watch this year’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, which is the biggest number at the event since Supercars began promoting it in 2012.
It surpassed the previous record of 198,763 set in 2019 when Shane van Gisbergen, Garth Tander, Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes all scored wins.
Despite the Triple Eight Race Engineering dominance stretching into 2022, the impressive numbers come on the back of this year’s event being the first ever to offer fans three nights of entertainment on stage at Club 500.
Gold Coast 500 winner Shane van Gisbergen stuns the crowd with a burnout. Image: Mark Horsburgh
New Supercars boss delighted with turnout
Supercars CEO Shane Howard said this year’s event was one to remember.
“We waited three years to put this event back together and it was one of the best ever,” Howard said.
“This is biggest attendance we’ve had at the event on the Gold Coast since Supercars started promoting it ten years ago
“I want to thank our loyal and passionate fans for the support of this sensational event. To have 200-thousand fans attend this year’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 confirms its status as Queensland’s biggest sporting event.
“This year we re-energised the event with three nights of music acts including some of the best
international DJs and Australian live acts.
“We had a focus on providing something for everyone at this year’s event from the addition of the
Hellenika Suite at the Beach Chicane to the SuperKids Zone and new on-track entertainment.
“Boost Mobile activations brought a huge amount of colour and entertainment to fans of all ages as well.
“The weather was perfect; fans enjoyed the party atmosphere and we showed the Gold Coast off to the rest of the world as one of the best events on the calendar.
“We’d like to thank the local businesses and residents who continue to get behind us and help to deliver great outcomes for visitors.”
Fans have been waiting to watch Supercars on the streets of Surfers Paradise since 2019. Photo by Dirk Klynsmith / LAT Images
Change in format and absence of co-drivers no turnoff
The sport’s return to the Gold Coast streets marked a big moment in the event’s history.
In addition to a three-year hiatus, the 2022 running was the first single-driver event held on the circuit since 2009, but also the longest with two full 250km races held on each day.
Between 2010 and 19 the round was an endurance race with the first three editions bringing some of the top drivers from around the globe including 1997 Formula 1 world champion Jacques Villeneuve to Australian IndyCar champion Will Power.
Despite the absence of co-drivers and the gruelling back-to-back 300km races, the fans voted with their feet, celebrating the event’s return in style by creating a party atmosphere that was evident all weekend.
One of the 200,000-plus fans having a good time was two-time Supercars champion and current IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin, who dressed up as Pikachu on the inside of the Beach Chicane.
Outside of the Supercars action, S5000’s brought open-wheelers back to the street circuit, while Super Utes and Carrera Cup also entertained in their respective season finales, while the Boost Mobile Challenge brought back memories of a fan-favourite event from two decades ago.
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Gold Coast 500 showed Queensland’s pent-up demand for world-class motor sport.
“It’s been terrific to have Supercars back on the Gold Coast’s famous street circuit and delivering a sensory feast for visiting spectators,” he said.
“We know a record crowd also means a strong result for the Gold Coast’s visitor economy including accommodation, transport and hospitality providers and tourism operators.
“Last weekend’s Gold Coast 500 Covid recovery now seems likely to red line the event’s contribution to the visitor economy beyond $50 million.”
Next year the event will return with the new Gen3 cars taking centre stage.
For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of Auto Action.
AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.
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