Track build underway for NTI Townsville 500

Work has begun today on the track build for next month’s biggest annual sporting event in North Queensland, the NTI Townsville 500.

With just 24 days until the Repco Supercars Championship returns to Reid Park for the 15th consecutive year of racing, crews of contractors will begin setting up barricades and 13km of fencing around the 2.86km circuit.

Event Manager Matthew Ramsden is on the ground to oversee this week’s initial stages of the track build and was joined by Bathurst winner and Townsville pole position winner Nick Percat, race winner Jack Le Brocq and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill.

Percat, who drives the Mobil 1 NTI Ford Mustang said today: "The most exciting part is the whole city of Townsville gets into this event.

"We get treated really well, it's a bit of a rockstar feel because everyone is so excited."

Le Brocq, who drives a Truck Assist Chevrolet Camaro said: "Fans are going to be in for a treat this year, these Gen3 cars are definitely working these tyres harder than they have in the past, from that aspect I think they're going to move around a lot more."

Mayor Hill said today: "This race stops Townsville, it stops Charters Towers, it stops most of North Queensland.

"Anyone who’s a genuine revhead finds the time to come here for this event."

This is the 15th year of Supercars in Townsville

Ramsden said: “It's fantastic to be back and kick off the preparations for what promises to be one of the biggest events we've ever organized here in Townsville.

“One of the highlights is working with familiar faces we've collaborated with for over a decade. Numerous local companies have been involved since the inaugural year of racing in 2009.

“It’s a huge task that we are proud to deliver again this year where around 2500 local prawns and 2500 local oysters, 4500 bread rolls from a local baker and 8 tons of local ice will be brought in, predominately by local suppliers.”

The week's tasks involve securing the event site and constructing grandstands that offer optimal viewing of the track.

In the following weeks, corporate facilities will be built to accommodate over 3,500 fans from across Australia.

The final construction piece will be the famous Townsville Big Top, where thousands of spectators will witness a captivating performance by Ministry of Sound and the first-ever drone show for Supercars that will light up the sky over Reid Park on Saturday, July 8.

Ramsden said one of the most exciting additions to this year’s event will be the first ever races of the Gen3 Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang on the street circuit.

“This will be the first time the Gen3 Supercars will race at Reid Park," he said.

Ministry of Sound will perform under the Big Top

“Every driver will be out to claim a slice of history and win the first Gen3 race here in Townsville.”

It’s another addition to the event that has already confirmed, celebrations for the 150th round of the Dunlop Super2 Series and Shane van Gisbergen’s 500th career race start.

Concert access is included in a same day event ticket for fans, being a three-day, two- day, Saturday Trackside, Grandstand or Corporate ticket.

The entertainment at the NTI Townsville 500 will flow across all three days of the event, including some of the best on track displays the event has ever seen.

Some of the best support categories in the country return, including the Dunlop Super2 and Dunlop Super3 Series, the Porsche Carrera Cup, Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series and the Battery World Aussie Racing Cars Super Series.

Trackside, fans will also be able to enjoy the Supercars Family Zone, autograph sessions, merchandise alley and grandstand seating.

The transporter parade will mark Supercars arrival on the Wednesday of race week, while fans will get the chance to meet with their favourite drivers in Townsville’s CBD on Thursday 6 July at SuperFest on Flinders Street East just hours before racing begins.

The NTI Townsville 500 is proudly supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.