The time of year is nearly upon us when the Gold Coast comes alive with roar of V8 engines, the sound of tyres screeching on asphalt, and the cheers of thousands of motor racing enthusiasts. October 19th sees the return of the prestigious Gold Coast 600, an electrifying street race where drivers can reach speeds of up to 265km per hour as they battle for domination of the event. The track is dangerous and has proved to be one of the most difficult in the V8 circuit, with great skill, precision and patience required to reach the finish line in one piece. The Gold Coast 600 is set to explode this year with a range of overseas talent that has been announced set to make their debuts or making long awaited returns to Australian soil.
Hailing from Germany, Formula 1 staple Nick Heidfeld is one of the exciting additions to the roster. In his first V8 test after 12 years with Formula 1, 35 year old Heidfeld brings veteran experience to Bottle-O Racing’s Ford Falcon team. As a newcomer to the V8 circuit the pressure is on Heidfeld to yield results and he appears to be eagerly embracing the challenge.
Further spicing up the competition will be the latest addition to the Jack Daniels Racing Commodore team, Marco Andretti. 25 year old American, Andretti is a star on the American IndyCar circuit and has cemented himself as one of its hottest prospects. Andretti is highly confident heading into the contest and firmly believes he will run in the top 10 of the event.
Englishman Darren Turner has experienced a wealth of international success including two victories at the prestigious Le Mans 24 hours. As an official driver for Aston Martin, Turner gained respect in the V8 world last year at the 600 when he entered the race with James Courtney as a late replacement for Dan Wheldon who was tragically killed racing in America. This year Turner has had ample time to prepare and is looking to make a statement on his return to the Gold Coast.
With these exciting additions to the V8 roster, competition at the Armor All 600 is set to be fierce, meaning only good things for the fans. Whether you’re a motoring enthusiast or a casual fan, the Gold Coast 600 is a spectacle not to be missed as the sunny boulevards of Surfers Paradise become high octane race tracks for the weekend. With the announcement of these highly skilled drivers this is an event not to be missed.
