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Kelly and Mostert sail into Castrol Gold Coast 600

14 Oct 2016
Previous Bathurst winners soak in the sea before racing through skyscrapers and dodging concrete at next week’s Supercars event.
3 mins by James Pavey
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Mostert and Kelly sail the broadwater

Supercars drivers Rick Kelly and Chaz Mostert switched petrol power for wind power today when they hit the Gold Coast Broadwater aboard Tony Longhurst’s Extreme 40 racing catamaran to mark one week out from Castrol Gold Coast 600.

Longhurst, a Supercars legend who was also on-board, operates Boatworks and is aiming to bring a round of the Louis Vuitton Series to the Gold Coast.

After both drivers had a difficult run at last weekend’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000, they are now focused on the final event of the Pirtek Enduro Cup next week.

Kelly was pleased to get out of his comfort zone as he prepares for the Castrol Gold Coast 600 and see some sea this year.

“For us, our trip up here normally just involves a hotel room and a race track, so to come out here on the Broadwater and jump onto what’s probably the fastest catamaran in Australia is definitely a pretty cool opportunity and one I won’t forget,” the Sengled racer said.

For Mostert, it will be his first time in two years at the tumultuous street track, missing 2015 because of his Bathurst accident.

“It’s fantastic to get back here, it’s been two years since I’ve raced here and last year watched it from a motel room from the track and watched all the guys have an awesome time and a hard race,” the 2014 Bathurst winner said.  

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“I’m really looking forward to getting back here, the atmosphere on the track is absolutely amazing – it’s one of the tracks we get to go to that the cars have got the most attitude here and then off-track with the fans it’s just unbelievable.”

Kelly earned a podium with David Russell last year after a stellar run in Sunday’s race, and he’s hoping to back that up with veteran Russell Ingall – who last year replaced Mostert at the same event.

“The Castrol Gold Coast 600 for us is certainly a great chance to finish off our season on a high.

“I’ve enjoyed driving with Russell Ingall the previous two rounds but we haven’t got what we’re after so this weekend’s our big chance,” Kelly said.

The event kicks off next Friday, October 21 and runs through until Sunday October 23. 

Multiple award-winning Australian bands The Living End, The Rubens and Birds of Tokyo will headline the Saturday night concert in the Broadwater Parklands.

Peking Duk will kick off a big weekend of entertainment when they headline 600 Sounds powered by Sea FM on the Friday night, supported by L D R U. 

Gold Coast’s biggest festival kicks off tonight, with the 10-day SuperFest including a spectacular evening parade through the streets of Surfers Paradise next Thursday.

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