Coast to host first open-wheel foray
GOLD Coast’s open-wheeler era will officially be reborn this month when fans get a glimpse of the future.
Supercars have confirmed two retro-inspired openwheel racecars will feature at the Gold Coast 600 on October 20-22 in demonstration runs through the streets of Surfers Paradise.
In a throwback to the heights of Indy, one model each of the Super5000 and Formula Thunder 5000 will be seen on the Coast.
The brains trusts behind the two concepts had originally been jostling to enter separate categories next year, with Super5000 featuring state of the art specifications and the Formula Thunder 5000 based on 1970s designs.
However, Australian motorsport icon John Bowe facilitated peace talks that will see the two concepts merge into one ultimate category to revive a Formula 5000-type series and provide a true pathway for drivers Down Under to pursue openwheel careers.
As part of the merger, elements will be taken from both models of cars to combine the best of both worlds – old and new. Super5000 will be the name carried forward.
It is hoped it will be operating as a support category for Supercars by mid-2018, with the Gold Coast set to be on the inaugural calendar.
Prodrive Racing Australia team owner Rusty French has laid down a $100,000 deposit on the first Super5000 car, declaring his intention to run prodigy Thomas Randle in it next year.
Randle won the New Zealand-based Toyota Racing Series this year and has more recently been competing in Europe in the prestigious Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 with promising results.
The Super5000 model made its public debut at the Sandown 500 last month with Leanne Tander – the wife of 2007 Supercars champion Garth – behind the wheel. It is understood a high-profile special guest could take the wheel on the Gold Coast, where the cars are expected to prove a hit.
“We think it’s fitting to have our first exhibition featuring both the Super5000 and Formula Thunder 5000 on the streets of the Gold Coast, where open-wheel racing first made its mark on the streets of Surfers Paradise 27 years ago,” Supercars managing director Matt Braid said.
“For our diehard fans who can remember the thrill of watching the open-wheelers, it will be a real blast from the past.”
IT’S FITTING TO HAVE OUR FIRST EXHIBITION FEATURING BOTH THE SUPER5000 AND FORMULA THUNDER 5000 ON THE STREETS OF THE GOLD COAST ... MATT BAIRD