Townsville taking shape
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 11 June 2024
Whilst Supercars go racing in Darwin this weekend, preparations for the following Townsville 500 are also ramping up.
Construction of the 2.86km hybrid street circuit has begun for the sixth round of the 2024 Supercars Championship on July 5-7.
It will be the 15th straight year the series races around the Reid Park streets since the first race was held in 2009.
It has become a driver’s favourite with both PremiAir Nulon Racing’s James Golding and WAU rookie Ryan Wood looking forward to taking it on.
“It is awesome to be coming back to Townsville and very exciting,” Wood said.
“It is cool to be here as the track build is beginning and I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.
“The fans are super close to the track and very intense for everyone involved.
“We (WAU) are just building and building. Fingers crossed we continue the momentum and roll in with some fast cars again and get this Truck Assist Mustang on the podium.”
“It is very exciting we are getting closer now and the track preparations have begun,” Golding said.
“It is all coming together and I can’t wait to come here and race around these streets. It is super challenging.
“Being on the street circuit one is tough with having the concrete walls close but there are also open sections that are pretty fast so there is a good mix.
“There are a few passing opportunities and it is always really tight racing so we always love coming here.”
Townsville 500 Event Manager Matt Ramsden said street closures will not occur until the end of the month.
“It is getting close now, we are just under a month away from the event going live so the track build gets underway today to construct this fantastic street circuit here in Reid Park,” he said.
“We are really looking forward to bringing the event to life over the next three and a half weeks.
“We are closing Boundary Street on Friday, June 28 which is a major change.
“We have communicated that on the Townsville community website.
“We expect to get to the record of 120,000 plus fans again.”
This weekend Supercars return with the Darwin Triple Crown before the halfway mark of the season in Townsville at the start of July.
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