We must fight to keep V8s coming back

TOWNSVILLE has made it clear that it’s the rightful North Queensland home of the V8 Supercars after more than 150,000 people poured through the Reid Park gates over three days.

As Townsville’s contract to host the Castrol Edge 400 nears its end, it is more important than ever that Townsville pulls together and supports this event in 2016.

Returning to the original format of two 200km races did nothing to dampen Townsville’s racing enthusiasm.

Attendance was the second- highest it has been since the event came to Townsville, but we may have to better that to keep the Supercars coming back in 2017 when the current contract expires.

The strongest message we can send to the organisers is to have more people than ever lining the racetrack next year.

It’s the race that stops our tropical city and it needs to remain here to prevent us losing the huge economic benefits it brings.

It would be a major disappointment to see pit lane mothballed and no orange barricades lining Boundary Street when July comes around in 2017.

It is arguably North Queensland’s event of the year.

It’s not just petrolheads who head to the track either, the event has captured the hearts of the Townsville community as a whole.

Long before the race car drivers start their engines, racing fever begins taking hold of the city.

People young and old dress in their best racing merchandise and head to the track with prams, babies, chairs and ear muffs in tow.

It’s a chance for families to enjoy an outing, young people to socialise and revheads to get their racing fix.

The weekend’s crowd figure was proof that the beefed- up concert schedule is a winner.

Organisers have set a new standard now and must match the 2015 line- up next year and, hopefully, the years after.

Let’s come together in 2016 and head to the track in greater numbers to ensure we don’t lose this special event.