Supercars Gold Coast car by car event guide
After two big enduros, Supercars returns to solo racing for two high-profile street races to end the year, beginning with the glitzy Gold Coast 500.
For the second year in a row, two 250km races will take place around the concrete canyon full of kerbs and chicanes.
Download the full Supercars Gold Coast 500 Round 11 Event Guide with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus extensive driver profiles here
The 2022 event marked a return from a three-year absence and Shane van Gisbergen made up for lost time, being untouchable across the two races to secure a third championship crown.
The Kiwi hopes a similar performance can kick start his championship charge in 2023 as he currently sits second, 131 points away from leader Brodie Kostecki.
Shane van Gisbergen smoked the opposition on the Gold Coast last year. Image: Mark Horsburgh
Although Will Brown, Broc Feeney and Chaz Mostert are still in mathematical contention, the championship looks set to become a showdown between reigning champion van Gisbergen and new contender Kostecki.
But things can change very quickly, especially at a track such as Gold Coast where one mistake can be extremely costly.
Triple Eight will be confident of success given it has won the last four races at the street circuit and taken home at least one winner’s surfboard in 10 of the last 14 events.
Meanwhile Erebus Motorsport has never won at the track and recorded just one podium.
Brodie Kostecki comes to the Gold Coast with the championship lead. Image: Peter Norton
But the Coke Camaros are a different beast in Gen3 and are out for revenge after falling short of Great Race glory.
All eyes will be on how the Fords fare after a second mid-season parity review saw Supercars give the green light to a host of changes to the Mustang.
The Mustang will roll out with an altered rear wing, side skirt, and front fascia elements.
After the last parity review, Anton De Pasquale drove Ford to its only on track win of the Gen3 era at Townsville albeit it with an extra set of fresh tyres.
Anton De Pasquale flies through the Beach Chicane last year. Photo by Mark Horsburgh / LAT Images)
The likes of Chaz Mostert, Will Davison, and David Reynolds, who are the only drivers who have previously driven Ford to victory on the Gold Coast will be hoping these changes can provide the lift Mustang runners have been waiting for.
The famous Beach Chicane will look slightly different this year following the removal of tyre bundles.
Following the major crash which wiped out multiple cars and shortened the Sunday race last year, the bundles are no more and have been replaced with electronic sensors which will notify drivers and teams of any kerb hops.
The same format of 2x250km races and Top 10 Shootouts remains in place and will be exclusively run on the Dunlop Soft tyre.
With the consequences high and 300 points up for grabs, this could be one of the defining weekends of the 2023 championship.
Download the full Supercars Gold Coast 500 Round 11 Event Guide with track stats and facts and a full event schedule, plus extensive driver profiles here
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It’s the Gold Coast 500. It’s the penultimate weekend for Supercars and we delve deep into all the happenings in our latest podcast episode.
The P word also gets a run. The ongoing GT4 saga and a tribute to Allan Horsley.
