The Armor All Gold Coast 600 will feature one of the greatest and most varied line-ups of driver talent in Australian motorsport history on the streets of Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia from October 22-24.
In a unique concept developed specifically for the Gold Coast V8 Supercar event, 18 of the world’s greatest drivers will team up with local home-grown talent for two 300km races on the world’s most spectacular street course.
The list is a who’s who of world motorsport and includes current international Australian aces David Brabham, Ryan Briscoe and Will Power, Kiwi Scott Dixon, Scottish ace and former Gold Coast Champ Car race winner Dario Franchitti, North America’s most successful road course racer and 1997 Gold Coast winner, Scott Pruett, four-time Champ Car and two-time Gold Coast winner Sebastien Bourdais from France, former European F1 drivers and current touring car and sportscar guns Heinz-Harold Frentzen (Germany), Tiago Monteiro (Portugal), Mika Salo (Finland), Andy Priaulx (UK), Gianni Morbidelli (Italy), Fabrizio Giovanardi (Italy), Alain Menu (Switzerland) and Yvan Muller (France).
The final list of drivers was announced at a spectacular event on the Gold Coast tonight by State Premier, Anna Bligh and V8 Supercars Chairman, Tony Cochrane who talked about the event:
When we first announced the concept for the Gold Coast race a few people were a little skeptical, but I think the list we have announced today proves just how special this event is going to be. This is one of the greatest line-ups of talent we have seen in world motorsport and to have the caliber of these international drivers mixed with our own V8 Supercar stars on the streets of Surfers Paradise is going to be something special. When we mix the racing action with the 16 fantastic music acts we have secured for our unique Rock and Race format, we will have something special on the streets of Surfers Paradise in October."
The international drivers are set to arrive on the Gold Coast on the Sunday before the event and will be involved in a week of activity, including a full-day test at Queensland Raceway.
The event will include two 300km races on Saturday and Sunday of the event, with the international drivers required to complete a minimum of 30% of each of the races.
Each two-car team must run at least one international driver.
- Sebastien Bourdais – France – Dick Johnson Racing
- David Brabham – Australia – Stone Brothers Racing
- Ryan Briscoe – Australia – Toll Holden Racing Team
- Scott Dixon – NZ – Jack Daniel’s Racing
- Dario Franchitti – Scotland – Jim Beam Racing
- Heinz-Harald Frentzen – Germany – Wilson Security Racing
- Fabrizio Giovanardi – Italy – Brad Jones Racing
- Patrick Long – USA – Fujitsu Racing
- Alain Menu – Switzerland –Brad Jones Racing
- Tiago Monteiro – Portugal – Centaur Racing
- Gianni Morbidelli – Italy – Triple F Racing
- Yvan Muller – France – Paul Morris Motorsport
- Will Power – Australia – Ford Performance Racing
- Andy Priaulx – UK – TeamVodafone
- Scott Pruett – USA – Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport
- Mika Salo – Finland – Bundaberg Red Racing Team
- Alex Tagliani – Canada – Kelly Racing
- Jacques Villeneuve – Canada – The Bottle-O Racing Team
Many of the drivers say they can't wait for the Gold Coast 600 to get under way.
Will Power announced:
"I have some unfinished business on the Gold Coast and maybe we can get it done in a V8 Supercar. I am looking forward to a great season with Team Penske in the Indy Racing League and then having the chance to race a V8 Supercar in front of a Queensland home crowd on the Gold Coast will be the icing on the cake. There are so many of us who seriously missed not racing on the Gold Coast last year and it’s great news that the event has survived last year’s drama and will move forward with this unique format. There are so many drivers around the world who have asked me what it is like to drive a V8 Supercar, now a lot of them will get their chance to find out."
Former CART champion Sebastien Bourdais quoted as well:
"I have the honor of being the only driver to have won the Gold Coast Champ Car race twice and that is something that I am very proud of. The Gold Coast is a special event for any driver who races there – it is such a fantastic place and this year I am hoping to explore the region and Queensland a little more. The concept for the Gold Coast 600 is fantastic and I cannot wait to get back out there in a V8 Supercar – racing against the best V8 Supercars have to offer as well as a host of guys who I have been racing against in some form or another all over the world through my career. The interest in this event in Europe is already starting to gain momentum, especially in the driver ranks, where plenty of guys are already putting up their hand for next year. I look forward to teaming up with Jonathon Webb at Dick Johnson Racing.
GRAND-AM champion Pruett quoted:
"The Gold Coast and the October event have been synonymous with the world’s great motorsport events for many years and it is fantastic that this concept has been put together for its 20th anniversary celebrations. This will provide a real re-birth to the event and take it back to the glory days of the late 90s and early 00s. “I loved my years on the Gold Coast, especially my victory in 1997 – ironically that year I was actually on my honeymoon with my wife, Judy. “My drive in a V8 Supercar at Bathurst later that year was a great experience and one I am looking forward to repeating. I don’t need any excuse to come to Australia, so when I received a call to be part of this program I jumped at the chance. I think the opportunity to drive a V8 Supercar on one of the world’s greatest street courses will be pretty attractive to plenty of the world’s great drivers.”
Jacques Villeneuve from Europe as he was stranded because of the Icelandic volcanic ash as quoted:
"I have some tremendous memories of the Gold Coast event from my Indycar years. It has been a while since I have been to the Gold Coast, but the event has always rated highly in the world of motorsports. Surfers Paradise is a beautiful part of the world and I am really looking forward to getting back down there. Unfortunately the volcano eruption in Iceland caused some issues with me getting back down to Australia for the launch this week, but hopefully I can get down for an advance visit in coming months. The V8 Supercars are a fantastic series with a terrific following and I cannot wait for the chance to drive one in anger. I think the international driver concept for the Gold Coast 600 is already creating a great amount of interest and that will only get stronger as we get closer to the event.”
The reigning IZOD Indycar champion Dario Franchitti quoted as well:
"The Gold Coast event is one of the most special in world motorsports and to have the chance to go back down there and race – in no less than a V8 Supercar – is going to be something pretty special,” said Franchitti, from the US. When I was first contacted about the idea, I thought it was fantastic and when the opportunity came up to join James (Courtney) at Dick Johnson Racing, it was the icing on the cake. Do I wish that the Gold Coast race was still part of the IndyCar Series, of course I do, but that is not possible for a lot of reasons. For me, this is the next best thing. I have always been a fan of V8 Supercars and I’ve been bugging a few friends in Australia for a drive at Bathurst for a few years, but dates have never fallen in my favour. To be back in Surfers Paradise in a V8 Supercar is going to be cool and there is not one international driver in the field that I have spoken with who is not serious about wining the event – and that goes double for me. To win at Surfers Paradise in both a Champ Car and V8 Supercar would be something pretty special."
