Strategy Guide: The possible Gold Coast race strategies

Street racing returns at the iconic Surfers Paradise Street Circuit for the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, which will be headlined by two 250km, 85-lap races.

It's a challenging circuit, which requires car balance over kerbs and through the chicanes. The fastest way home is obviously having the fastest car, but drivers can make up plenty of time as they absorb the kerbs and settle their cars.

Set-up is a compromise between softness to absorb bumps and kerbs, and stiffness for change of direction through the 90-degree corners at the end of the lap.

When it comes to crunch time, teams will have to be on their A-game in pit lane, given there's no mandated fuel drop. It's all about getting everything done at the right time, and delivering under pressure.

Supercars.com explains the keys to strategy for the two 85-lap races, and the fastest way to the finish.

What tyres do we have?

Dunlop’s Soft tyre compound returns for the first time since Sydney in July. Each car will have 28 Soft tyres (seven sets) for qualifying and the races. Each car also has 28 (seven sets) wet weather tyres for the weekend.

Expected strategies

Drivers are required to complete a minimum of two compulsory stops, and will take on approximately 21 seconds of fuel across both stops.

With 21 seconds of fuel spread over two stops, at 10.5 seconds per stop, teams will be limited on strategy given it already takes between seven to 10 seconds to change four tyres.

As ever, teams will be looking to stop under Safety Car should it fall at the right time, but the first stop needs to be completed before the reverse window opens on lap 30. Teams will likely stay out until around laps 25 to 30, and expect cars to undergo four-tyre stops.

The recent Repco Bathurst 1000 also saw fuel flow variations between teams, which could also be a factor in total pit lane time.

As we've seen, completing a pitstop under Full Course Yellow or Safety Car is hugely beneficial, but so is clean air. Expect a balance of teams to wait for a Safety Car to pit, and undercut via an earlier stop.

It's a different kettle of fish to 2023, where race strategy was dictated by the fuel drop requirement. The winners did roughly equal tyre stints, with the first stop a shorter fuel stop, and longer on second stop. Crucially, Safety Cars didn't impact strategy in either race, nor were there unique strategies that yielded standout results.

Key

#) Pit stop count

a) Three equal stints, with equal fuel added at each stop

b) Reverse window, unlikely unless dictated by Safety Car

c) 2023 Saturday race-winning strategy (no Safety Cars)

d) 2023 Sunday race-winning strategy (Safety Cars on lap 1 and 79)

Safety Car probability

Since the Gold Coast became a part of the championship in 2002, the Safety Car has appeared in 36 of the 44 races. The most Safety Car periods in a Gold Coast race is six, in the Sunday race in 2010. There were also six on Sunday in 2009, although that was split across two legs.

What about the weather?

Saturday and Sunday will both be partly cloudy, and there is a medium chance of showers in the afternoon on both days. Teams will be looking to the skies as the races roll around, so stay tuned for action on track and in pit lane.