Beachside spectacle starts the countdown to GC500 race day

The world of Supercars has descended on the Gold Coast, kicking off race week on the beach in a spectacular race across the sand. Find out more.

The Supercars have landed.

Gold Coast is now officially the centre of the Australian motorsport universe with a supercharged race across the sand to start the lead-in to the main show this weekend.

Matt Stone Racing’s Chevrolet Camaro was flanked by helicopters, aircraft, a Trophy Truck and Polaris Buggy as it powered across the beach.

Supercars driver Cameron Hill, the Boost drift car, Buggy, Chopper, and Stunt plain as they raced along Main Beach today ahead of this weekend’s Boost Mobile GC 500, Event 11 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Driver Cameron Hill said he was looking forward to the racing from Friday and said he was keen to test out racing on the sand.

“I love this event, when you get here and the weather’s always pretty stunning, and just looking up the buildings, when you walk in the track, it just feels out of this world,” he said.

“It’s definitely iconic to be driving race cars on the beach, but I’m probably glad that we’re doing the [GC500] on the streets.”

Aussie drifter Mitchell Pullen, who raced a drift car across pristine Main Beach on Monday, said it was a “massive opportunity” to be racing on the Gold Coast.

“It’s definitely building up, just the whole atmosphere and everything around the Gold Coast is going to be awesome,” he said.

“I’m excited to be there. I’m going to hose everyone.

“We’re going to open the drift slam and do some entertainment stuff throughout the weekend, but definitely going to be a cool event.”

Supercars announced earlier in the year that twilight drift car racing would be added to the stellar line-up.

Supercars driver Cameron Hill, the Boost drift car, Buggy, Chopper, and Stunt plain as they raced along Main Beach today ahead of this weekend’s Boost Mobile GC 500, Event 11 of the Repco Supercars Championship, Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

Experience Gold Coast’s managing director of events Avril Harris said the upcoming weekend was not to be missed.

“We’re hoping that we’re going to see another record crowd in the Supercars, last year’s event attracted more than 200,000 people across the three days and injected almost $60 million into the economy,” she said.

“It’s amazing that we have it here on the Gold Coast.”

Supercars CEO Shane Howard said the energy was electric heading into race week.

“It’s all about bringing the action from the track to the beach and beyond, giving fans a taste of what’s to come.

“The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 is more than just a race, it’s a celebration of motorsport and the Gold Coast lifestyle.”

Originally published as Beachside spectacle starts the countdown to GC500 race day