Mixed opinion on Friday races
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 11 July 2025
Townsville hosted the third Friday race of the 2025 Supercars Championship and teams are undecided about its value.
Whilst winner Brodie Kostecki joked of “always” racing on a Friday after taking his first DJR win, team owners are not so convinced.
As part of a welcome change to bring more racing, the Sydney, Townsville and Adelaide events have an additional, shorter 100km race held on Friday, whilst the Australian Grand Prix has always had a race on practice day.
Whilst those watching on TV would have enjoyed them, they have struggled to pull in big crowds.
Although it may have been a great spectacle for TV, the Sydney season opener on Friday night took place in front of a near-empty grandstand.
Meanwhile, the grass banks were also far from full for the Townsville season opener. Supercars do not release day-by-day crowd attendance figures.
BJR owner Brad Jones is certainly one who does not think these should be regular fixtures going forward.
“I don’t think that many people watch it,” Jones said.
“Unless they record and watch it later on TV, which somewhat defeats the purpose and drops off some of our fans, so I think it’s a novelty.
“We have it because we’ve got a four-day meeting at Adelaide, and then it’s sort of somehow morphed into Sydney Motorsport Park and here.
One half of the main straight grandstand 20 minutes before the start of the 2025 Sydney season opener on Friday night. Image: Auto Action
“I would be really interested to look at the numbers, and I’d be massively surprised if it’s worthwhile.”
Both MSR’s Matt Stone and Grove Racing’s David Cauchi are more open to it, however.
“It is a big day for the teams,” Cauchi said.
“As long as the fans want it, and it brings more people to the track, and people are watching it on TV, then it’s probably the right thing to do.
“But it’s definitely a big day out for us.”
“I would rather race Friday afternoon than have two races on Saturday,” Stone said.
“I think it can be easier for the crew, but at the end of the day, it’s driven by the spectators and the fans at home watching on TV.”
Image: Mark Horsburgh
2025 Townsville 500
FRIDAY 11th July
9:20am – 9:50am: Supercars Practice 1
11:10am – 11:40am: Supercars Practice 2
1:20pm – 1:50pm: Qualifying, Race 20 (Fox only)
3:40pm: Race 20 (35 laps/100kms) (Fox only)
SATURDAY 12th July
10:00am – 10:30am: Qualifying, Race 21 (Fox only)
12:05pm – 12:40pm: Top Ten Shootout, Race 21 (Fox/Seven)
3:00pm: Race 21 (70 laps/200kms) (Fox/Seven)
SUNDAY 13th July
10:00am – 10:30am: Qualifying, Race 22 (Fox only)
12:05pm – 12:40pm: Top Ten Shootout, Race 22 (Fox/Seven)
3:00pm: Race 22 (70 laps/200kms)(Fox/Seven)
Read the new issue of Auto Action Digital HERE
Buy the new issue of Auto Action Premium HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here or you can purchase a copy of the latest issue from one of our outlets here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine
Recent Stories
array (
0 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 11,
'name' => 'Latest News',
'slug' => 'latest-news',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 11,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 16617,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 11,
'category_count' => 16617,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'Latest News',
'category_nicename' => 'latest-news',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
1 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 38,
'name' => 'Supercars',
'slug' => 'supercars',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 38,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 5574,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 38,
'category_count' => 5574,
'category_description' => 'The Supercars Championship, currently known as the Repco Supercars Championship, is the premier motorsport category in Australasia and one of Australia\'s biggest sports. It originated from the Australian Touring Car Championship (ATCC), which held its first race in 1960 at Gnoo-Blas in Orange, New South Wales. The ATCC evolved over the years, and in 1997, it was rebranded as the V8 Supercars Championship, eventually becoming the Supercars Championship we know today.
Some of the leading drivers in the history of the Supercars Championship include Peter Brock, who is often referred to as the "King of the Mountain" for his nine victories at the Bathurst 1000, a race that is considered one of the biggest in the series. Other notable drivers include Dick Johnson, Marcos Ambrose, Craig Lowndes, Shane van Gisbergen, Jamie Whincup, who holds the record for the most championship titles, and Mark Skaife, who has also been a dominant force in the series.
The Bathurst 1000, held at Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales, is arguably the most famous race in the Supercars calendar. Other significant races include the Sandown 500 and the Adelaide 500, which are known for their challenging circuits and thrilling competitions.
The Supercars Championship has grown to become a globally recognized series, known for its competitive racing and passionate fan base. It continues to be a major part of Australia\'s motorsport culture, attracting top drivers and teams from around the world.',
'cat_name' => 'Supercars',
'category_nicename' => 'supercars',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
2 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2029,
'name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'slug' => 'email',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2029,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 2031,
'count' => 7173,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2029,
'category_count' => 7173,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-Email',
'category_nicename' => 'email',
'category_parent' => 2031,
)),
3 =>
WP_Term::__set_state(array(
'term_id' => 2031,
'name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'slug' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'term_group' => 0,
'term_taxonomy_id' => 2031,
'taxonomy' => 'category',
'description' => '',
'parent' => 0,
'count' => 6528,
'filter' => 'raw',
'cat_ID' => 2031,
'category_count' => 6528,
'category_description' => '',
'cat_name' => 'ZZZ-RSSFeeds',
'category_nicename' => 'zzz-rssfeeds',
'category_parent' => 0,
)),
)
