Golding to defend career-best position on local streets

James Golding will have extra motivation to perform on the Gold Coast streets, as he defends his career-best fifth position in the drivers' championship.

The PremiAir Nulon Racing driver currently holds down P5 in the drivers' standings with two rounds to go, after vaulting from 11th to sixth in Bathurst with David Russell.

Golding has been a man on a mission this season, claiming a maiden pole in Darwin and first podium at Sandown.

Matt Payne's shock crash late in Sunday's Great Race was a big win for Golding, who moved up to sixth on the final lap as Payne's teammate Richie Stanaway ran out of fuel.

Fifth is as good as it it likely to get for Golding, with Cam Waters 356 points up the road. However, there's still plenty to play for, with Payne only 59 points back.

With Nick Percat (170 points), Thomas Randle (175), Anton De Pasquale (187) and Will Davison (188) behind, Golding is in the box seat to smash his previous best finish of 16th, set last year.

Golding finished 22nd (2018) and 20th (2019) in his two Garry Rogers Motorsport seasons, before coming 25th in. a partial 2022 campaign with PremiAir.

Come season's end in Adelaide, and Golding could be most improved of all drivers in 2024, and even an outside chance at the Barry Sheene Medal given his clean and impressive record this season.

For now, the Victorian-born, Gold Coast-based driver wants to take home a famous Gold Coast surfboard trophy and claim an emotional first win for PremiAir.

"We've got the surfboard trophies here for the Gold Coast race," he told media on Wednesday.

"It's really been an iconic part of the Gold Coast event; to get one of those surfboards as a trophy's pretty cool. It's a really iconic thing. That's what I'll be aiming for, and I can't wait to have a crack."

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 on October 25-27. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. The Seven Network will take free to air coverage. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.