New look Saturday night entertainment for Townsville

This year’s 14th instalment of racing on the streets of Townsville’s famed Reid Park Street Circuit will feature a night-time extravaganza that will thrill fans of all ages.

The event will for the first time in Townsville, see displays by some of Australia’s most-powerful drag cars along with the popular Hot Wheels Stunt Team, headed up by the legendary Matt Mingay and performances by the high-flying Airtime FMX Team.

Off track, Aussie rock star and Grinspoon frontman Phil Jamieson will perform on the Saturday night, after the winner of a brand-new Battle of the Bands competition takes to the stage to rock in front of thousands of fans at the track precinct at the Saturday Night Thrills concert.

The entertainment will end with a firework display following Jamieson’s performance which will include covers of rock hits and original music.

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The entertainment lineup has been announced this morning at the official launch of this year’s NTI Townsville 500, which runs 9-11 July.

The first-ever Supercars’ Battle of the Bands competition in Townsville will reward one North Queensland band a once in a lifetime prize pool.

The winning band will perform prior to ARIA-Award winner Jamieson at Saturday Night Thrills and will also win the opportunity to sing the national anthem on the grid with that performance broadcast around the world and nationally on Fox Sports and the Seven Network.

They will also claim a hot lap, unique tour of pit lane and will perform live on Triple M in the days leading into the event. There is also a first-place cash prize of $5000 for the winning band.

The second-place prize winner will also perform on the Saturday evening and win a cash prize of $2000.

Phil Jamieson Pic: The Echo

To enter, bands from North Queensland simply need to upload a video of their best rendition of a well-known rock song to social media channels and use the hashtag #SupercarsThrills before June 25.

The best online performances will be named as finalists on June 26, and from there fans will vote on Supercars.com for their favourite to claim the ultimate prize.

Supercars CEO Sean Seamer said the initiative will celebrate Townsville talent on and off the track.

“We’re thrilled to be able to give a group of Townsville performers the opportunity to be a part of our event with the first-ever Saturday Night Thrills concert,” Seamer said.

“This year’s event is already shaping as one of the biggest on record for North Queensland, so we wanted to ensure there was something for everyone.

“From motorsport fans to music fans, Saturday Night Thrills will have something for all ages and will add something new to one of our flagship events.”

The top fueler coming to Townsville Pic: Sydney Dragway

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said she was looking forward to the Supercars returning to the Reid Park track in July.

“Thanks to our community’s outstanding efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, Townsville was proud to host a Supercars double-header in 2020, albeit with restrictions on the number of people who could attend,” Cr Hill said.

“With most restrictions now lifted, I’m confident we’ll see motorsport enthusiasts returning to Reid Park in large numbers for this year’s exciting NTI Townsville 500.

“Townsville City Council is proud to partner with the Supercars Championship and the Queensland Government to deliver this event again in 2021. Not only is it a fantastic event for motorsport fans, it provides an important economic boost for the local economy as well as a platform to promote everything our city and region has to offer to a national and international audience.

“With our month-long North Australian Festival of Arts kicking off a week before the Townsville 500, there is simply no better time to visit and spend a few days in beautiful Townsville and North Queensland.”

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Chief Executive Officer of NTI, Tony Clark, said: “NTI are proud and excited to welcome fans to another NTI Townsville round.

“This year’s NTI Townsville 500 is going to be an event to remember and jam-packed with fun for both fans and families.

We’re looking forward to cheering on the teams and entertainers in July.”

Fans with a paying ticket to the NTI Townsville 500 will be able to attend Saturday Night Thrills on Saturday, 10 July.

This year’s event will include the last ever race in Townsville by Supercars great Jamie Whincup who is retiring from full-time driving at the end of 2021. Whincup has more wins in North Queensland than any other driver in history, with his current mark at 12 victories.

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It will also feature some of Supercars’ biggest support categories; the Dunlop Super2 Series, Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series, Porsche Carrera Cup and the fan-favourite Stadium Super Trucks.

A Super Truck, driven by Paul Morris jumped through the air on top of the iconic Castle Hill this morning to launch this year’s event.

The NTI Townsville is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.

Tickets are now available for the NTI Townsville 500 through Ticketek, for more information on Saturday Night Thrills head to Supercars.com.