Supercars’ smashing success
A look back at significant moments in the North’s history
TOWNSVILLE’S extravaganza of V8 Supercars action has surpassed all expectations, with fans, drivers and civic leaders all praising the success of the three-day Townsville 400.
The inaugural meet has already become a signature event on the V8s Supercars calendar, with almost 170,000 fans walking through the gate.
It is an event unlike anything Townsville has experienced before, and estimates are that up to $28 million has been injected into the local economy.
Jamie Whincup took out Saturday’s first race, meaning he has now won six of out of 12 rounds this season, but today’s second race produced a bolter in James Courtney, who bounced back from a blown tyre on Saturday to be unstoppable in today’s second edition.
Drama, entertainment, high-octane action and a festive atmosphere – the Townsville 400 simply had it all.
Supercars CEO Tony Cochrane said he was blown away with the phenomenal success of the first event.
‘‘To think that this event has knocked off the first year of Clipsal in Adelaide with total numbers is mindblowing,’’ Cochrane said.
‘‘We didn’t have a number in our head anywhere near this … not even close.
‘‘I’m just blown away.
‘‘For a first-up event, it almost was an A-triple plus rating.’’
A total of 168,057 people flocked through the gates over the three days, blitzing the first Adelaide Clipsal 500 by more than 6000 fans.
Saturday attracted the largest crowd, with 60,117 through the gates.
Today was slightly less with 59,984 fans and the first day attracted 47,956.
‘‘To put it really in perspective … this event replaced the appallingly run and hopeless Eastern Creek circuit where last year we had 29,000 spectators over three days,’’ Cochrane said.
‘‘Here we’ve done many millions in corporate … and the ticket results are just outstanding.’’
Townsville Enterprise CEO Trevor Goldstone said early estimates revealed that the festival had injected up to $28 million into the local economy.
He said four years ago it was predicted 80,000 people would attend, bringing about $10 million to the city.
‘‘My team were doing some figures last week and we need to do a bit of work to confirm those, but we’re anticipating with the attendance we’ve actually had we will get probably somewhere between the $25 million and $28 million boost to the economy,” he said.
‘‘The investment by government has more or less already been paid back.’’
Cochrane said debriefs to improve the festival next year had already started.
Plans are already in place to improve the Reid Park facilities for next year, with more pedestrian overpasses and public toilets.
‘‘There were a few things that went wrong, but they were minor in the grand scheme of things,” Cochrane said.
‘‘I’m sure we can improve some of the facilities for next year. I’m sure we won’t be shocked next year by the crowd turning up.’’
The Townsville Bulletin conducted a straw poll with 50 racegoers today to find out what the crowd liked and didn’t like about Townsville’s first V8 Supercars event.
From young and old alike the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with most praising organisers for excellent planning.
Most of the constructive criticism was about shade, more pedestrian bridges over the track, more viewing mounds and better transport to the precinct.
Almost all of the 50 polled were from North Queensland, proving the region was more than ready for an event of the V8 Supercars’ calibre.
Jane Mitchell, who was at her first motorsport event, said it had been an awesome experience.
‘‘It’s great they have got
North Queensland,’’ she said. this in
Proserpine’s Zeb Wheeler, who was having a ‘boys’ weekend’ in Townsville with his dad Terry, said he’d like to see another viewing mound built along pit straight in time for next year’s event.
• The Townsville 400 has been held at Reid Park for 11 consecutive years, and despite facing the threat of cancellation because of COVID-19 restrictions, the annual motorsport extravaganza will still be held across August 29-30.
The event’s inaugural champion Jamie Whincup has become the undisputed ‘King of Reid Park’, with 10 race wins at the Townsville 400.
The street circuit, which was so enthusiastically embraced by the Supercars community in its inaugural year, remains a favourite among Supercars drivers.