17-year-old Pimlico State High School student and racer Lachlan Evennett gears up for Supercars Townsville NTI 500

For this 17-year-old North Queenslander, having the support of a home crowd is something he plans to use to his advantage when he takes to the track in the NTI Townsville 500 Supercars.

Works starts to prepare Townsville's Reid Park for Repco Supercars Championship. Townsville’s Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series teenager Lachlan Evennett. Picture: Evan Morgan

For 17-year-old Pimlico State High School student Lachlan Evennett, having the support of a home crowd is something he is looking to use to his advantage in the NTI Townsville 500 Supercars event next month.

Despite rainy conditions, staff were working hard on Tuesday morning, installing barricades and more than 13 kilometres of fencing to create the 2.86km circuit at Reid Park.

Works starts to prepare Townsville's Reid Park for Repco Supercars Championship. Dunlop Super2 Series driver Jarrod Hughes, SCT Logistics Chevrolet Camaro driver Jaxon Evans, Dunlop Super2 Series driver Nash Morris, and Townsville's Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series teenager Lachlan Evennett. Picture: Evan Morgan

Event manager Matt Ramsden said it’s a “huge operation” to get the track ready.

Running from July 11 to 13, organisers say 2025 will be the biggest Townsville 500 event yet.

“This year it includes a Pro Bull Riding Ring, a custom built skidpan for the Summernats Pro Burnout and drift competition and more car displays than ever before, plus we have begun the build on corporate facilities to host over 3,500 guests,” he said.

Works starts to prepare Townsville's Reid Park for Repco Supercars Championship. Jay Chun Tie, Townsville's Toyota Gazoo Racing 86 Series teenager Lachlan Evennett, SCT Logistics Chevrolet Camaro driver Jaxon Evans, Dunlop Super2 Series driver Nash Morris, Dunlop Super2 Series driver Jarrod Hughes and Bobbie Stevens. Picture: Evan Morgan

Lachlan, who will be one of the youngest people to take the track is racing in the Toyota 86 GR Cup, which he says has been known to produce good racing over the years.

“It’s a very close competitive category, you’ve got less than a tenth of a second between each car,” he said.

Lachlan is hoping the support from the crowd will help him go all the way at Reid Park.

“I can sleep in my own bed that night and then come out to the track in the morning,” he said.

“I think having the support of a town and being in your home race really makes a difference and I am ready to capitalise on that and have a good weekend.”

A rising star of Aussie racing, Mr Evennett recently took out his first Formula Ford race win in the Australian Formula Ford Series at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick earlier in the month.

Tickets are available now at Supercars.com.

Originally published as 17-year-old Pimlico State High School student and racer Lachlan Evennett gears up for Supercars Townsville NTI 500