V8 SuperUtes to stage non-championship Adelaide appearance 

The V8 SuperUte Series will make a special non-championship appearance at next month’s VAILO Adelaide 500.

Whilst the exciting championship showdown will be deciding on the Gold Coast, the utes will be racing door to door once again on the streets of Adelaide with a different prize on the line.

Drivers will be chasing for the inaugural Go Sunny Tradies Cup, which will be a standalone event held across the four days at the famous circuit in the heart of the South Australian capital.

The V8 SuperUte Series has enjoyed some big fields in 2023.

In another first it will be the first time the V8 SuperUtes will be racing at the VAILO Adelaide 500 in its current V8 era.

The V8 SuperUte Series races held at Adelaide in 2018 and 2019 were part of the diesel period.

The V8 SuperUte Series joins the Dunlop Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, S5000, GT World Challenge and Touring Car Masters as support categories listed on the Supercars website for the event which is yet to have a track schedule released.

Ryal Harris took the first ever SuperUtes race win at Adelaide in 2018.

VAILO Adelaide 500 chief executive Mark Warren cannot wait to see the V8 SuperUtes fight on the famous Formula 1 and Supercars venue.

“The V8 SuperUtes have seen considerable growth in recent years with competitive racing, a full field and tight championship,” he said.

“Utes are the number one category for new vehicle sales with huge appeal to the tradies and have become a popular choice for family transport. 

“The idea of having the ‘Go Sunny Tradies Cup’ is for fans to get behind their brand of choice and see them in door crunching battles on the racetrack.

“We are committed to delivering the best and most entertaining motorsport line-up at the VAILO Adelaide 500, and we’re counting down the days until we see the SuperUtes racing around our Adelaide street circuit in November.”

It has already been a massive year for the V8 SuperUte Series with record fields, two female drivers and six marques battling on track.

Aaron Borg returned to the lead of the V8 SuperUte championship. Image: Aaron Borg Racing

After five competitive rounds, the stage is set for a nail-biting championship battle to be decided at the finale on the Gold Coast with just seven points separating reigning champion Aaron Borg and Adam Marjoram.

V8 SuperUtes Series Operations and Communications Manager Filippa Guarna believes it will be a great way to send off the year.

“2023 has been an exceptional season of racing for the category with both drivers and teams enthusiastic about the future, including the trip to Adelaide to race for the inaugural Go Sunny Tradies Cup,” she said.

“The series aims to bring entertainment and fun to create a family friendly paddock and a connection between fans and their race heroes, while supporting its manufacturers which is an important part of our racing DNA.

“We’re also proud to have a record number of women racing in the category with Holly Espray and Ellexandra Best.

“Even though the championship will be wrapped up by the time we race at the VAILO Adelaide 500, all the drivers are really excited to finish the year off in front of South Australian fans and give it all we’ve got to put on a great show.”

Tom Alexander taking the kerb at turn nine in 2018.

George Gutierrez has been fighting up the front of the field all year and promises drivers to be putting on a show for the big Adelaide crowd.

“The VAILO Adelaide 500 is one of my favourite events. Last year we had our Go Sunny Solar V8 SuperUtes on display and it attracted a lot of attention from fans,” he said.

“This year it will be amazing to return but have four races in front of a home crowd because there’s no doubt Adelaide fans are some of the most passionate!

“Our teams and drivers will be sure to put on some great door-to-door racing for fans of all ages on the streets of Adelaide, and it’ll be a show you don’t want to miss!”

The 2023 VAILO Adelaide 500 will be held on November 23-26.

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