FANDEMONIUM AS
HUNDREDS of Supercars fans lined up to meet their favourite drivers at the Super Welcome event yesterday as excitement began to build for the Townsville 400.
The event was held at Riverway and as well as drivers signing autographs there was plenty of family fun, food trucks and a movie screening.
Fans braved the long queues to have everything from posters, helmets, cardboard cutouts of drivers and a car bonnet signed.
Jack Nicolls, 10, was looking forward to heading to the Reid Park track with his eight- yearold brother Stirling and father Adam Nicolls.
The family are keen motorsports fans and spend plenty of weekends watching the action on television while eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Supercars in Townsville.
Jack races Go Karts and he was lucky enough to have his helmet signed at the Super Welcome yesterday.
“We’ve gone every year so far,” Jack said. “We usually get to go one day and then Dad gets one day to go there by himself without us.
“Everything about ( Supercars) is my favourite. I’ve always like car racing. I don’t have a favourite driver but I like the Ford team.”
This weekend’s racing will bring up a special milestone for veteran Supercars driver Jason Bright.
The Prodive Racing team member will become the fourth driver after Garth Tander, Craig Lowndes and Russell Ingall to compete in 250 championship rounds.
“It must mean I’ve done something right over the years. It’s pretty cool to be in that company for sure,” Bright said.
While the 44- year- old will be celebrating the personal milestone, his Prodrive team will bring up its 200th round.
Prodrive have been 8.20am — 8.40am: Aussie Racing Cars practice ( 20 mins) 8.50am — 9.10am: Australian V8 Ute Racing Series practice 1 ( 20 mins) 9.20am — 9.40am: Toyota 86 Racing Series practice 1 ( 20 mins) 9.45am — 9.55am: On track entertainment ( 10 mins) 10.10am — 10.50am: Dunlop Super2 Series practice 1 ( 40 mins) 11.05am — 11.25am: Australian GT practice ( 20 mins) knocked off their perch as the leading Ford team this year, with DJR Team Penske’s Falcons driven by Fabian Coulthard and Scott McLaughlin leading the championship.
But Bright believes Prodrive, which has Chaz Mostert, Mark Winterbottom, Cameron Waters and himself in their stable, can bridge the gap.
“I don’t think that anyone at Prodrive would say that we’re doing an awesome job at the moment but we know there’s some ( improvement) to come,” Bright said. More Townsville 400: Sport 11.35am — 11.55am: Aussie Racing Cars qualifying ( 20 mins) 12.10pm — 12.50pm: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship practice 1 ( 40 mins) 1.05pm — 1.25pm: Australian V8 Ute Racing Series practice 2 ( 20 mins) 1.35pm — 1.55pm: Toyota 86 Racing Series practice 2 ( 20 mins) 2.10pm — 2.50pm: Dunlop Super2 Series practice 2 ( 40 mins) 3.05pm — 3.45pm: Virgin Australia Supercars Championship practice 2 ( 40 mins)