Photos: Edge Photographics Fresh from a highly memorable round at Hidden Valley Raceway, the Repco Supercars Championship returns this weekend with the NTI Townsville 500.
Marking races 16 and 17 in the 2023 Supercars season, the sixth event of the year will see the championship’s 25 drivers take to the Reid Park Street Circuit to compete in two races across Saturday and Sunday.
Following from Darwin, at which no one secured the coveted Triple Crown, competition is fierce going into this weekend.
Current leader Brodie Kostecki, who fronts the championship by 59 points will be fighting to maintain the top spot, now under threat after an absence of race wins in Darwin.
Kostecki will be battling against Erebus teammate Will Brown, as well as key rivals, Broc Feeney and Shane van Gisbergen from Red Bull Ampol Racing for the prized spot, with each of them close enough in points to finish the weekend on top.
Of course, van Gisbergen may have a little jet lag following a remarkable win in the United State as part of his NASCAR debut in the past weekend, but will be keen to continue to replicate last year’s efforts where he won both outings.
Jack Le Brocq and Mark Winterbottom, who currently sit in eighth and eleventh place respectively, are also sure to put up a strong fight against the top drivers, after taking home impressive race wins at the Betr Triple Crown.
Following Supercars’ Indigenous Round in Darwin, 17 of the 25 cars will also maintain their indigenous liveries for NAIDOC week, including Dick Johnson Racing’s Shell V-Power livery, which won the fan favourite vote.
The supporting Dunlop Super2 and Super3 categories will also be sure to add to a great weekend of motorsport, taking to the track Saturday and Sunday for two exhilarating 40-minute races.
Super2 drivers to watch this weekend include 2021 Townsville winner, Zak Best, who currently leads the championship by 48 points.
Ryan Wood who not only won the Perth round, but has qualified in the top ten every race in his debut Super2 season, will also be one to keep an eye on, as well as Aaron Love, who finished Perth a close second.
Super3’s Cameron McLeod, Jett Johnson and Jobe Stewart, who currently leads by 27 points, will also be ones to watch in the supporting category.
Other supporting categories this weekend will be the Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia, TGRA 86 Series and Battery World Aussie Racing.
The NTI Townsville 500 takes place at Reid Park Street Circuit on 7-9 July.
Schedule
Friday 7 July
10:10am-10-40am Practice 1
2:45pm-3:15pm Practice 2
Saturday 8 July
10:15am-10:30am ARMOR ALL Qualifying – Race 16
12:00pm-12:30pm ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout – Race 16
2:40pm-4:50pm Race 16
Sunday 9 July
10:00am-10:15am ARMOR ALL Qualifying – Race 17
12:00pm-12:30pm ARMOR ALL Top 10 Shootout – Race 17
2:40pm-4:50pm Race 17
The Top 10 After Darwin
1. Brodie Kostecki – 1164 points
2. Will Brown – 1105
3. Broc Feeney – 1073
4. Shane van Gisbergen – 1054
5. Chaz Mostert – 985
6. Andre Heimgartner – 882
7. Cam Waters – 877
8. Jack Le Brocq – 814
9. Will Davison – 802
10. David Reynolds – 743
Support Categories
Dunlop Super2 and Super3
Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia
TGRA 86 Series
Battery World Aussie Racing
Entry List
Walkinshaw Andretti United
#2 Ford Mustang GT – Nick Percat
#25 Ford Mustang GT – Chaz Mostert
Tim Blanchard Racing
#3 Ford Mustang GT – Todd Hazelwood
Brad Jones Racing
#4 Chevrolet Camaro – Jack Smith
#8 Chevrolet Camaro – Andre Heimgartner
#14 Chevrolet Camaro – Bryce Fullwood
#96 Chevrolet Camaro – Macauley Jones
Tickford Racing
#5 Ford Mustang GT – James Courtney
#50 Ford Mustang GT – Cameron Waters
#55 Ford Mustang GT – Thomas Randle
#56 Ford Mustang GT – Declan Fraser
Grove Racing
#19 Ford Mustang GT – Matthew Payne
#26 Ford Mustang GT – David Reynolds
Erebus Motorsport
#9 Chevrolet Camaro – Will Brown
#99 Chevrolet Camaro – Brodie Kostecki
Dick Johnson Racing
#11 Ford Mustang GT – Anton De Pasquale
#17 Ford Mustang GT – Will Davison
Team 18
#18 Chevrolet Camaro – Mark Winterbottom
#20 Chevrolet Camaro – Scott Pye
PremiAir Racing
#23 Chevrolet Camaro – Tim Slade
#31 Chevrolet Camaro – James Golding
Matt Stone Racing
#34 Chevrolet Camaro – Jack Le Brocq
#35 Chevrolet Camaro – Cameron Hill
Triple Eight Race Engineering
#88 Chevrolet Camaro – Broc Feeney
#97 Chevrolet Camaro – Shane van Gisbergen
Keyword: Supercars heads up north for Townsville tussle