Supercars stars to light up Ipswich Excel enduro

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: September 21, 2023

Queensland Raceway’s annual Hyundai Excel enduro will have some extra star quality in the form of Supercars drivers this weekend.

The fifth round of the Queensland Racing Drivers Championship is headlined by a 300km Hyundai Excel race, while state Production Cars, Holden HQs, Utes and Hot Hatch Cup are also on show.

The big one is the EFS 4×4 Accessories Track Attack Excel Cup, which will be contested over 300km for the first time.

Joining the fun in the big field of over 50 cars will be some current Supercars stars.

The Racing Together team which creates motorsport opportunities for the Indigenous youth will be boosted by the addition of drivers from two of the biggest Supercars teams.

Dick Johnson Racing’s Anton De Pasquale and Triple Eight Race Engineering’s Zane Goddard will co-drive with regular Racing Together drivers Karlai Warner and Braedyn Cidoni.

Zane Goddard will swap his Supercheap Auto Camaro Supercar for a Racing Together Hyundai Excel at Ipswich this weekend. Image:Mark Horsburgh

They will be combinations to watch, while Matt Stone Racing’s Jaylyn Robotham is also part of the field.

With an increased race distance to 96 laps, strategy will become an even bigger element with refuelling part of the picture for the first time.

Teams must refuel during a five minute pit stop, while tyre changes must be completed separately.

Queensland Raceway general manager Josh McFarlane said it will the race will be an even bigger spectacle than usual.

“It is one of our biggest races of the year and our big enduro,” he told Auto Action.

“We have had multiple Supercars drivers race it in the past. Declan Fraser raced last year and we have also had Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki and a heap of others over the years.

Anton De Pasquale will bring Supercars race winning pedigree to the race. Image: Mark Horsburgh

“This is the first time it is a full 300km enduro and a bit like the old QR300 they used to do with refuelling.

“Up to last year it was a shorter race with simply just a driver change over 62 laps, so this will be a bigger challenge.

“Queensland Raceway is the best place to watch Excel racing because you see the bump drafts with up to six or more cars happening down the straights, so there will be great racing.”

In addition to the 300km enduro, the Excels will also conduct a Top 10 Shootout and a 30-lap Sprint race on the Saturday.

All up there will be around 120 vehicles racing around the “Paperclip” with at least 35 Queensland Production Cars expected to take part in three one-hour races.

A field of around 30 cars is expected in Production Sports which also have three one-hour races.

Bragging rights will be on the line in the Holden HQs which will be embracing the State of Origin rivalry with the Queensland drives looking to defend home turf from their New South Wales rivals.

The Utes and Hot Hatch category will battle it out over five races throughout the weekend on a mixture of layouts.

Practice takes place on Friday before racing and qualifying on Saturday and the enduro focused Sunday.

The entire track will be open for the fans, who can enjoy the new public bar located on level three of the new pit straight complex.

Ticket prices begin at $20 on Saturday and $30 on Sunday while under 13 are free.

Tickets and more information are available HERE

Image by MTR Images

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