A massive 184,732 motorsport fans make Gold Coast 600 a raging success

THE V8 Supercars spectacular set a new benchmark at the weekend with huge crowds and big names thrilling fans on and off-track.

Action from the GC600 at Surfers Paradise on Saturday. Large crowds . Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

THE sound of champagne corks popping was heard both on the podium and behind the scenes yesterday, as Gold Coast 600 organisers celebrated the best crowd numbers in five years.

The 184,732 people that went through the gates in three days was almost 10,000 more than was clocked last year and greater than the 182,255 that caused V8 Supercars organisers to do a happy dance in 2012.

An exhausted but upbeat V8 Supercars boss James Warburton gave the Gold Coast’s new light rail system much of the credit yesterday.

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Massive crowds flocked to the Gold Coast 600 at the weekend. Picture: JERAD WILLIAMS

Mr Warburton said the G: Link was one of the city’s “major assets”.

“A lot of people I have spoken to have used it and many for the first time,” he said.

“The message about this being the easiest year to get here, has resonated.”

Roulette flight officer Clay Esler during an aerobatic formation over the Gold Coast.

Mr Warburton said the success of the recent Bathurst 1000 had also given the Gold Coast 600 a boost, particularly as local Paul Morris notched up a win with co-driver Chaz Mostert.

“Bathurst was a record and it was a phenomenal race as well,” he said. “It gave us a huge promotional canvas for the Gold Coast.”

Mr Warburton said the entertainment­ offering, including Club 600 which was at MacIntosh Island for the first time this year, had injected new life into the Gold Coast event.

The G:Link trams were a major success at this years event. Pic by David Clark

“What Billy Cross has done with Club 600 has helped the event,” he said.

“You can see a lot more young faces around to see people like (entertainer and The X Factor judge) Redfoo this year.”

V8 Superfest, the festival that wrapped around the Gold Coast 600, had also helped promote the race event.

An extra 50,000 people went to Superfest events in the lead-up to the race.

X-Factor judge Redfoo was a big hit at the Gold Coast 600 (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

There were some let-downs, however, and the Friday night drags were among them, with mechanical failures leaving fans disappointed.

“We will be reviewing everything and working out a better plan next year,” Mr Warburton said.

“The drags was a demonstration event, but we take fan feedback on all these things.”

Mr Warburton said he was confident of the State Government’s ongoing support for the Gold Coast event after this year’s success.

League star Sam Burgess with Miss V8 Supercar Stella Badenoch. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The Government at all levels has been very well represented across the two days in the corporate suite,” he said.

“We have had the Premier (Campbell Newman) here and (Tourism) Minister (Jann) Stuckey here ... and a lot of the federal members and local councillors here.

“More importantly we have done what we said we were going to do. We were going to build community engagement and support and increase the economic impact and awareness through Superfest and we have done that.”

Bree McKillop, Raquel Petit, Bianca Petit and Zilda Williams lapped up the Gold Coast 600 action. Photo: Kit Wise

Mr Warburton said V8 Supercars would continue to build on the event and introduce new elements, with the possibility of bringing back the international drivers next year.

“I would love to see some superstars of motorsport from around the world come to this event and co-drive with our stars,” he said.

Mr Warburton thanked the 850 volunteers and officials plus the event’s team.

The Premier Campbell Newman does his pit lane walk and runs into Craig Lowndes at the Gold Coast 600. Pics Adam Head