Everything you need to know about the 2024 Gold Coast 500
Excitement is building ahead of a huge weekend of racing at the GC500. From unmissable on-track action to getting tickets and transport, this is your full event guide.
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The highly anticipated Gold Coast 500 is finally here, promising a huge weekend of fast-paced action.
From getting your hands on tickets to event transport and must-see races, this is your full guide to everything you need to know this race weekend.
GETTING THERE
Free transport is available for event ticket holders attending the Gold Coast 500.
Extra tram services will operate before and after the event to ensure customers get home safely, with 135 additional tram services across the three days of racing.
Trams will run at a higher frequency from 8am – 10.30pm on Saturday and 8am – 8.30pm on Sunday.
Head of TransLink Deborah Hume said public transport would be the easiest way for racegoers to get to and from the event, with limited parking available near the track.
“Additional tram services running up to every 6.5 minutes will allow customers to access the track from key locations on the Coast,” she said.
“Our priority is to get customers to and from the event safely and we encourage commuters to plan their journey in advance, allow extra travel time and please have some patience as we work to move crowds smoothly.”
GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford said the GC500 was one of the busiest weekend for G:link.
“The team will be ready to welcome tens of thousands of locals and visitors from Friday to Sunday,” he said.
“We expect numbers to exceed those we saw last year based on the increase in patronage overall being recorded since 50 cent fares were introduced.
“Paid passenger trips jumped by 20 per cent in August to 1.2 million, taking the 10-year patronage total to 86.9 million trips since the Gold Coast Light Rail started operating.”
TICKETS
Standard Grandstand tickets are available from $381 per person for three days.
Standard Fanstands tickets are available from $108 per person per day.
Standard General Admission tickets are available from $91 per person per day.
Any of these tickets can be upgraded with a Pit Lane Walk which is $45 per person per session.
ROAD CLOSURES
The Gold Coast Highway will be reduced to one lane in both directions between Waterways Drive and Surfers Paradise Boulevard (near Golden Gate Resort) from October 21 to October 28.
The Gold Coast Highway will be reduced to one northbound lane from Thomas Drive to Waterways Drive from October 21 to October 28.
Side streets within Main Beach and Surfers Paradise will also be affected, with access restricted for residents and businesses, leading up to and during the event.
For a full list of streets affected throughout the event build, please click here.
KEY RACES
Saturday, October 26
7.35am – Pit Lane Walk, Safety & Course Car Tours
11am – Boost Mobile Qualifying (Race 21) Repco Supercars Championship
11.30am – Race 3 (Aussie Racing Cars)
12.35pm – Boost Mobile TTSO (Race 21) Repco Supercars Championship
1.05pm – On Track Entertainment
3.15pm – Race 21 Repco Supercars Championship
5.50pm Boost Mobile Pro Drift Slam
Sunday, October 27
7.15am – Pit Lane Walk, Safety & Course Car Tours
10.10am – Boost Mobile Qualifying (Race 22) Repco Supercars Championship
10.35am – Boost Mobile Pro Drift Slam
11.35am – Boost Mobile TTSO (Race 22) Repco Supercars Championship
12.05pm – On Track Entertainment
2.15pm – Race 22 Repco Supercars Championship
‘Ready to go’: Fans rub shoulders with GC500 drivers as excitement builds
Fans have got up close and personal with Gold Coast 500 drivers at Surfers Paradise on the eve of the event's launch.
Gold Coast-born driver Broc Feeney said while the turnaround from Bathurst was short, he was good to go for the weekend.
“It’s super-exciting to be at home – staying at home is obviously a bonus – but the big one to remember is that it’s just another race for me,” he said.
“There’s lots of excitement around it, but I sort of focus on doing my job so that’s probably the most important thing for me this weekend.”
While Gold Coast is known as the party round, Feeney said he was focused on staying competitive.
“All of us wish we could go out and have some fun on the weekend, but as I said, we do have a job to do,” he said.
“I’m sure we’ll have some fun Sunday night but the goal is the same as always – to go and try and win, try and get a surfboard.
“It’s one of our coolest trophies of the year.”
Powerhouse Blanchard Racing Team Gold Coast team James Courtney and Aaron Love joined Feeney for the meet-and-greet with fans on Thursday night.
“We’re pretty excited about the weekend. It’s been a pretty quick turnaround getting the cars repaired and sorted after Bathurst, but everyone’s here ready to go,” Courtney said, adding he loves getting to sleep in his own bed.
“It’s really nice to have your mum and dad, wife or kids coming out to support too,” Love said.
“I’ve been fortunate to win this thing and go out on the town carrying the surfboard around.”
Spectators Trevor and Tarsh travelled from Horsham, Victoria for the GC500.
“We’ve come straight from Bathurst. Our favourite part is the atmosphere, just seeing all the drivers and they’re absolutely amazing people,” Tarsh said.
“We’re hoping Gold Coast is even better than Bathurst,” Trevor said.
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Originally published as Everything you need to know about the 2024 Gold Coast 500
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