Queensland support for hub teams
Visiting Supercars teams staying on the Gold Coast hub over the next fortnight have been offered a multi-layered support package by the local council.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the five Melbourne-based teams and Team Sydney are staying on the Gold Coast until the trucks leave for the next event in Darwin on August 8-9.
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It was announced this morning that visiting team personnel will be given access to stress and mental health experts during their stay.
Two-week gym memberships at the Gold Coast Performance Centre in Runaway Bay have too been offered, granting access to the gym, pool, track and field, plus ice baths.
Queensland Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development Kate Jones welcomed Supercars as the latest sport to make the sunshine state home.
“Supercars has had a great relationship with the City of Gold Coast for years and it’s so wonderful that we can roll out the red carpet and welcome their drivers from Victoria to be located here for the next fortnight,” said Jones.
“All the appropriate quarantine measures have been put in place and we’re very confident with the COVID-safe plan that Supercars developed some months ago and we continue to work with them to ensure that racing can continue.”
Supercars chief operating officer Shane Howard added: “The City of Gold Coast has been fantastic.
“They’ve really helped us out with securing accommodation, access to professionals such as health and wellbeing, physios and gymnasiums etc cetera so the teams can get some relaxation.
“There’s over 90 people here at the moment and they’re away from their families and friends, so we’re just very appreciative of what the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast has done to support Supercars and the Victorian teams.”
Team members are also being encouraged to enjoy their time on the GC, with discounted admission to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Sky Point and Sky Point Climb and Warner Village Theme Parks.
The theme park component includes the Australian Outback Spectacular, Top Golf, Sea World Resort and Paradise Country Farmstay.
Sea World is the temporary home for Tickford Racing, which headed to Queensland following a maiden win last time out for 2020 recruit Jack Le Brocq.
Walkinshaw Andretti United is meanwhile bunkered down at Showtime Entertainment Group, which is behind stunt shows at Sea World and Movie World involving endurance co-driver Warren Luff.
Penrite Racing is at Paul Morris’ Norwell Motorplex, Kelly Racing at 222 Offshore in Ormeau, Team 18 at Ross Stone’s workshop in Yatala and Team Sydney at Tekno’s base in the same suburb.
Gold Coast-based Shell V-Power Racing and Matt Stone Racing, Brisbane-based Triple Eight and Albury-based Brad Jones Racing remain at their regular workshops.
The five Melbourne-based outfits have already been on the road since July 6, when they hurriedly headed for Sydney amid an impending closure of the Victoria/New South Wales border.
They arrived in Queensland, together with Team Sydney, following the weekend’s Truck Assist SuperSprint at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Their next trip is to Darwin for the double-header of events across the August 8-9 and 15-16 weekends, before returning to Queensland for Townsville on August 29-30.
