Gold Coast Super GP Saved By V8 Supercars
October 26th 2009 04:57
After the initial naming rights sponsor, Nitro Energy Drinks went insolvent, Nikkon stepped in, although much of the official merchandise still bore the Nitro moniker.
At the eleventh hour the main event, the Formula A1 cars, were a no show leaving Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves, Event Chairman Terry Macenroth and SuperGP General Manager Greg Hooton with egg on their faces.
In the end the V8 Supercar Series, more popular amongst the domestic audience, stole the show again, adding additional races to fill up the program.
V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom, driverof the #5 Orrcon Steel FPR Falcon, was in the Nikon SuperGP pit lane this morning to reflect upon his weekend’s success on the Surfers Paradise streets.
Winterbottom, who claimed two prized Nikon SuperGP surfboards across the weekend despite battling a glandular illness for the past week, said the win was just the lift he needed.
“The Gold Coast track is a real driver’s track, it rewards bravery and disciplines stupidity.
“If you ask any driver in the field I’m sure they’ll all agree that this track rates very highly on their list of favourites - it is one of the tracks we all enjoy.
“This year’s format I believe worked well, but it is up to the powers to be to decide what format next year’s event will take. From a personal point of view I really didn’t pay too much attention to the Indy Cars when they were here.”
“The racing was pretty fierce over the weekend and I’m sure that everyone who was here or watching on tv certainly enjoyed the action.”
“I think this year’s crowd was very thick with motorsport enthusiasts, where in the past there was a large proportion of people who were simply here to party and not that interested in the racing.”
The 2009 Nikon SuperGP featured four 150km V8 Supercar races as well as the Pirtek Australian Legends and a bumper on and off track entertainment program, plus support racing from the Haymans Electrical Mini Challenge, Strategic Airlines Formula Ford and the Aussie Racing Cars.
Over 205,000 people visited the event across the four days of October 22-25, and in 2010 the event will celebrate its 20th year.
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