More than two decades since the first IndyCar race weekend in 1991, our big motorsport meet of thrills and spills on the infamous Surfers Paradise street circuit faced a road block.

Crowd numbers had hit a speed bump and the event’s future was in doubt as organisers sat down with the State Government to negotiate a new funding agreement.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR $3 A WEEK

FOREIGNER, LIVE, SHEPPARD TO ROCK GOLD COAST 600 RACE FANS

The Government was considering pulling financial support for the event as questions were raised about its return on investment for taxpayers and apparent lack of vision surrounding its future growth.

As one insider puts it, “the race was on the ropes”.

Despite the seeming impasse, the then Major Events Minister Kate Jones and former Supercars boss James Warburton jointly announced in June 2016 that they had brokered a new three-year deal to keep the GC600 going until 2019.

TOPLESS WAITRESSES, ADULT ENTERTAINERS STILL
REVVING UP RACE FANS AT GOLD COAST 600

Two years down the track, with new management at the wheel, it appears the event has turned a corner as the countdown begins to this year’s event from October 19-21.

Insiders say new Supercars chief Sean Seamer has helped put this year’s race back on pole and powered a rethink that will soon see ‘exciting innovations’ rolled out to drive its future growth.

REMEMBER WHEN: THE GOLD COAST INDY CARNIVAL
WAS ON THE BRINK OF ENDING AFTER CONTRACT SPAT

Innovation and Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said the Coast race — tipped to generate more than 100,000 visitor nights and tip well over $41 million into the local economy this year — had grown from “strength to strength” in the past two years.

“TEQ have spoken with Supercars bosses at length about the future of the GC600 and I know Sean Seamer has a vision to supercharge this Supercars event in the future,” she said.

“It’s amazing to see how far the Coast’s marquee car race has come in recent years.

“With the new initiatives planned by Supercars on the Gold Coast, I’m confident this event will continue to grow in the future.”

While she’s no stranger to motorsport, new Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista will make her Supercars debut when she joins fans trackside at this year’s Gold Coast 600.

“I’ve had some experience with motorsports, having led a successful bid for Formula E in Perth,” she said.

“The Surfers Paradise Street Circuit is ideal for racing. It makes for great TV viewing and it’s enjoyed by vast numbers of spectators. The added entertainment and festival-like atmosphere make it a world-class event.”

800 VOLUNTEER POSITIONS FOR GC600 FOUND IN RECORD TIME

BULLETIN SPORTS REPORTER CONNOR O’BRIEN
RACES TO VICTORY AT SUPERCARS AWARDS

In 2014, the three Queensland Supercars events — Townsville, Ipswich and the Gold Coast — combined generated more than 218,000 visitor nights and an economic impact of approximately $75 million (or approximately $70 million in direct and incremental spending).

While the combined total visitor nights for the three events dropped to just over 215,000 in 2015, their combined economic impact rose to $90 million.

In 2016 and 2017, the Coast race alone generated more than $41 in direct and incremental spend.

NEVER MISS A MINUTE WITH THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN APP

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is a longtime fan of the event on two fronts — for the benefits its delivers the city and the excitement it serves motorsport and music lovers, himself included.

“This race remains a marquee event on the Supercars calendar and delivers tens of millions in free-to-air publicity,’’ he said.

“The drivers also rate it as one of the most exhilarating, with concrete walls flashing by at 280km/h. I’ll be there this year and partying on at Foreigner on Saturday night.’’

While she’s yet to see it in action, Ms Battista knows how important the GC600 is to the city’s economy.

“It’s very important. The Gold Coast 600 is the largest sporting event on the Gold Coast’s events calendar and it’s one of the largest events in Queensland, generating more than $40 million to the city’s bottom line,” she said.

BEACHSIDE CAFE IN POLE POSITION FOR GOLD COAST 600 RACE

“The flow-on tourism benefits are far reaching, providing employment and income for the accommodation providers, restaurateurs, clubs and pubs, transport operators and more.

“The Gold Coast’s skyline is beamed to a global TV audience. It’s publicity you can’t buy in terms of marketing dollars. Seeing stunning coastal images over-and-over again will certainly entice many to think about visiting the Gold Coast.”

The spoils of race weekend have extended their reach since Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 1 opened in 2014.

GoldlinQ (G:link) CEO Phil Mumford says the GC600 is the busiest weekend of the year for G:link, which runs extra services during the event to cater for free travel for event ticketholders.

Tourism and Events Queensland figures show the GC600 generated 103,015 visitor nights in 2015 and 106,158 in 2016. The figure rose significantly last year, climbing to 114,483.

Ms Battista said accommodation bookings for this year’s race were “tracking steadily”.

“There are still rooms available and we know that some racegoers will book closer to the event in hopes of snagging some last minute bargains,” she said.

MOTORING TOWARDS THE MAGIC 200,000 ATTENDANCE MARK

IT’S the question that ricochets around the city every year in the lead-up to Gold Coast 600 race weekend.

Is this the year the event will finally crack the magic 200,000 attendance mark?

Last year’s race weekend was on track to finally pass the 200,000 post when wet weather smashed Sunday walk-up sales and saw the 2018 event crowd come in at 186,259.

“We are at times at the mercy of mother nature and events such as the Gold Coast 600 do capitalise on our sunshine,” Destination Gold Coast CEO Annaliese Battista said.

“Offering great on and off the track entertainment and affordable tickets are certainly key to boosting attendance.

“Destination Gold Coast has supported the event with marketing assistance and we are working with the Gold Coast 600 team to continue to make it a great success.”

Punters were able to buy tickets to the 600 Sounds concerts at Broadwater Parklands at the gate for the first time last year — a move that helped boost overall race attendance.

Race organisers say cracking the 200,000 mark isn’t their focus, but ticket sales and weather forecasts indicate the 2018 event might get there yet.

Ms Battista said the GC600 was already a driver for interstate visitors, with more than 10 per cent of ticketholders coming from outside Queensland, and has potential to expand its international appeal.

“There is certainly an opportunity to promote the event in markets including Asia and that would be reliant on collaboration from all stakeholders,” she said.