Fans race to score 2018 pole positions

MOTORSPORT fans are already snapping up some of the best tickets on track for next year’s GC600 before the flag drops on this year’s event.

Supercars Australia spokesman Cole Hitchcock said general ticket sales for this weekend’s race were roughly on par with last year – “perhaps slightly below”.

“The weather has obviously affected this but we do expect a strong walk-up,” he said.

The event’s 7800 corporate tickets have again proven popular, with Saturday and Sunday’s allocations sold out.

“There is limited Friday availability only,” Mr Hitchcock said. “We are already on sale for corporate for 2018 with some new and exciting options including a Sports Lounge, the Trackside Lounge and the Veuve Clicquot Rich Lounge.”

He said the Sports Lounge, a stand-alone facility at pit exit, would offer patrons their “favourite sports in the one place”.

GC600 event manager Sam Pearce said the weather is forecast to clear by the weekend.

“The forecast is now showing a relatively fine weekend with some rain activity on Saturday,” he said.

As race fans know, wet conditions are a game changer that have seen some of the championships’ most fancied competitors slip up and slide out of contention on the Coast.

Rick Kelly and Craig Lowndes and the championship’s Kiwi drivers including Richie Stanaway, Scott McLaughlin, Fabian Coulthard and Shane van Gisbergen are tipped to fare best if current conditions persist.

“From a racing perspective, some wet weather can be a good thing for the spectators as it certainly mixes up the racing and spices up the action – especially on a street circuit like the Coast,” Mr Pearce said.