Gold Coast GC600 weekend’s Miss Supercars axed from V8 show

After almost 30 years a popular GC600 contest is no more, with organisers confirming they will no longer endorse the competition.

Poolside at Mercure Resort Gold Coast during a Miss Supercars final weekend were (from left) Riarne Marwood, Katerina Lanshakova, Megan Hall, Monique Evren, Karina Jones, Schinead Johnston, Charlotte Cushing. Picture: Richard Gosling

THE Miss Supercars contest is no more.

The long-running event with finals annually on the Gold Coast during the GC600 in October will no longer be endorsed by Supercars, sources revealed to the Bulletin.

It marks the end of an era after the contest, formerly Miss Indy, first started back in 1992 before morphing into Miss Supercars for the GC600 weekend.

It launched the likes of Jennifer Hawkins, a Miss Indy 2002 finalist before she went on to be crowned Miss Universe. Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke’s wife Kyly Clarke won it in 1999.

GOODBYE BIKINI, HELLO ONE PIECE

Miss Universe 2004 winner Jennifer Hawkins, right, as second runner up in Bartercard Miss Indy 2003. Beauty Contest Motor Racing

MISS SUPERCARS GOES CORPORATE

Recent winners have included Gold Coast nurse Charlotte Cush and Brisbane influencer Katie Stevens who now runs a successful corporate events business.

In a statement to the Bulletin this afternoon, Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard confirmed: “The Miss Supercars program will be replaced by a junior development program based on the Gold Coast which has been more than a year in the planning, the details of which we will announce in full over the coming weeks.

“Supercars has evolved and is focused on creating career pathways for young girls and boys across a number of areas, from a whole of sport standpoint.

Gold Coast 600 Miss Supercars winners in 2015 (from left) are runner up Taylor Marlene Curry, Miss Supercars Katie Stevens, and second runner up Monica Brown. Picture: Richard Gosling

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN FOR $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS

“This program aligns more closely with our strategic plan to develop young talent as well as embrace the Dare to be Different and Women in Motorsport programs.”

Gold Coast’s Procon Leisure has run the Miss Supercars contest since it launched.

Procon Leisure has been contacted for comment.

Remembering Miss Indy/Miss Supercars

VIEW GALLERY

A motorsport source said it believed the reasons for discontinuing the endorsement of Miss Supercars was driven by a “mix of everything” from moving towards a more family focused view of Supercars and Formula One having already dropped its grid girls.

However, it is understood Supercars sponsors will continue to use promotional models on track during the racing weekends.

Miss Supercars contestant from Brisbane Ashley Izod wearing the one-piece swimsuit that is a new element introduced to move the contest away from a grid girl image several years ago. Picture: Nigel Hallett

MORE NEWS

Coast principal wins top award

New train services announced for Gold Coast

Surprise new feature inside Surfers supertower

Miss Supercars had made changes in recent years to reposition the contest from a beauty pageant to a search for a corporate ambassador.

It included ditching a bikini modelling component for a more stylish one-piece.