RACING: P33-34 RUGBY LEAGUE: P35 FOOTBALL: P37 OUR OPEN SEASON
New series in the mix for Surfers Paradise event
WHO needs IndyCar when you can bring open-wheelers and international drivers to the Gold Coast at a fraction of the cost and hassle?
That’s the message of the newly launched S5000 series, who yesterday unveiled a six-round 2019 championship calendar featuring stops at Sydney Motorsport Park, Phillip Island, Tailem Bend, Winton, Sandown and a finale back at Tailem Bend.
S5000 head honchos have opened talks with Supercars to bring their category to the Gold Coast 600 next year as a glamorous support act.
It comes as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has ramped up efforts to bring IndyCar back to Surfers Paradise from 2020.
“Supercars run a really good event up there but there has always been the question, particularly in recent years, about does the Gold Coast go hunting for an openwheel category?” said Matt Braid, director of Australian Racing Group, which will run S5000. “IndyCar is seriously expensive, the track would require alterations. It’s not cheap.
“For me, it’s a case of don’t throw the baby under the bus. You have got a great event already in the Gold Coast 600, Supercars is still very well represented and supported up there; why not add to it with S5000?
“They can run on that track without modification so it doesn’t need extensive redesigns or rebuilds of the track and the cars will be spectacular.
“Next to Formula One, Formula Two and IndyCar, the S5000 car is the most powerful open-wheeler in the world. It’s up there with those guys so they’ll be quick, they’ll be noisy, they’ll be absolutely engineered to be safe but to really showcase the talent of the driver.”
The series is targeting a 12-car grid for the inaugural season.
While no drivers have been locked in yet, Braid expects a mix of experienced and fresh faces to come to the party.
“When we hit the grid next year, we may see some surprising names running around in S5000 mixed in with some young guys and girls who really want to show themselves as well,” he said.
However, the plan is for a nonpoints Gold Coast round to attract high-profile wildcard entries to internationalise the event.
“I am pretty confident we could work with the various stakeholders to get a significant number of international drivers to participate in that race,” Braid said.
“(That) would go a long way towards providing that international open-wheel class that the powers that be seem to be chasing at the moment.”
A Supercars spokesman confirmed they would be open to having S5000 join their event on October 25-27 next year.