The Gold Coast Bulletin

GC600 to rain supreme Wet forecast may bring some thrills and spills but record attendance still the big tip

- EMILY MACDONALD EMILY.MACDONALD@NEWS.COM.AU

WITH just enough rain for some thrills and spills on track but not enough to make the expected record crowd put the brakes on, this weekend’s Castrol Edge Gold Coast 600 is set to be a roaring success.

Event organisers say the grandstand seats are close to capacity but there are still tickets available in all categories, as the attendance figure looks set to surpass 200,000 across the three-day event.

Excitement has reached full throttle since the first of the V8 transporte­rs began to roll in to the city and park at The Spit yesterday.

Although severe thundersto­rms, complete with hail, strong winds and heavy rainfall could strike the Gold Coast this afternoon, from tomorrow the Bureau of Meteorolog­y predicts just a smattering of rain.

“We’re predicting two to five millimetre­s of rainfall so very, very low precipitat­ion amounts but it might wet the track and make things interhover esting,” BOM spokesman Jess Carey said. “It should be a cracking weekend with excellent conditions.

“There’s a 40 to 50 per cent chance of showers on each of the three days.” Mr Carey said minimum temperatur­es would at 16-17C at 26- 27C.

V8 Supercars are asking rev heads to leave the driving to the profession­als, with free public transport on trains, buses and the trams for all GC600 tickethold­ers.

Motorists are already experienci­ng significan­t delays around the race precinct with the light rail well patronised by commuters looking to avoid the gridlock.

Entry gates have been positioned directly opposite Main Beach and Surfers Paradise North G-Link stations.

and

maximums

“If we were to crack the 200,000 mark, this is looking like it would be up there with one of the biggest events yet since it switched to V8 Supercars in 2009,” a spokesman said. “Ticket sales are trending really, really strongly.

“At the moment though everything is still available.”

Racegoers who purchase either a three-day event pass or a ticket to Saturday’s event will also receive a compliment­ary pass to the Cold Chisel concert.

Tickets start from around $50 for an adult plus booking fee, from ticketek.com.au.

 ??  ?? Drivers Rick Kelly and Shane van Gisbergen and Miss V8 Supercars finalists play a game of beach volleyball at Surfers Paradise. Pictures: TIM MARSDEN
FINALISTS PROFILED: P20
Drivers Rick Kelly and Shane van Gisbergen and Miss V8 Supercars finalists play a game of beach volleyball at Surfers Paradise. Pictures: TIM MARSDEN FINALISTS PROFILED: P20
 ??  ?? V8 Supercars trucks and cars arrive in Surfers Paradise.
V8 Supercars trucks and cars arrive in Surfers Paradise.

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