Gold Coast 500 launched in style

An evening of glitz and glamour has officially launched this year’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

Just over 40 days out from Supercars’ biggest party, hundreds of guests filled the Isoletto Pool Club at The Dorsett on Thursday.

The event marked the official launch of the October 28-30 event. Tickets are on sale now. 

Repco Supercars Championship drivers walked the orange carpet at the world-class casino venue, joined by special guest Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

Gold Coast-based drivers Anton De Pasquale, Broc Feeney, Brodie Kostecki, James Courtney, Will Davison, and Jack Smith were in attendance, along with Dunlop Super2 talents Matthew Payne and Aaron Seton.

Seven-time Bathurst 1000 winner Craig Lowndes joined the festivities, along with Red Bull Ampol Racing Team Manager Mark Dutton. 

This year marks the 26th running of the Surfers Paradise street event and the first since 2019.

Feeney, Kostecki, Davison, and Courtney took to the stage for interviews.

The evening was hosted by Riana Crehan.

Supercars CEO Shane Howard, Boost Mobile Founder Peter Adderton, and Tate also addressed the invitees.

Guests were given a taste of the headline music acts featuring at the iconic street circuit event, with performances from DJ Total Eclipse and Brooke Evers.

The Gold Coast 500 will see some of Australia’s hottest DJs and international stars take to the Club 500 stage on Macintosh Island on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evening of October’s event.

The extravaganza will be headlined by Bliss n Eso, Carl Cox & Eric Powell’s Mobile Disco and Sneaky Sound System.

"We are back here on the Gold Coast and it is so exciting," Howard said.

"Thank you to everyone here tonight for joining us to support one of Queensland's most iconic sporting events.

"It is time to start your engines, we are ready to go.

"It's hard to believe we have waited over 1000 days to get this race back on the Gold Coast, and there are now only 42 days to go.

"I'd like to thank the Queensland Government, Tourism Queensland, the City of the Gold Coast, and Mayor Tom Tate for their unwavering support of this event.

"As well as Major Events Gold Coast and of course our naming rights sponsor Boost Mobile, who have really got behind this event and who will help us bring the party back to the Gold Coast."

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said motorsport fans and tourism operators were looking forward to the return of Supercars to the Gold Coast.

"We on the Gold Coast love the Gold Coast 500, we have been waiting in anticipation, and the party on the Gold Coast is going to be big," Tate said. 

"It is wonderful to celebrate the event that is going to happen very soon, and it will be back bigger and better.

"The anticipation is that we will break pre-covid numbers and there will be well over the 200,000 people that we saw in 2019. 

"For us on the Gold Coast, we are delighted to welcome everyone back here."

Boost Mobile Founder Peter Adderton said: "We are a big supporter of this event, we are so excited.

"The greatest thing about the Gold Coast is the people, when you come to this town, people are ready to party and have fun.

"I'm so excited about getting behind the event, I want to thank everyone, we are passionate about the sport, I love this sport.

"This will be the biggest event, this should be an international event, and Boost is super excited to be a part of it."

The last Gold Coast 500 event saw Triple Eight split the honours on the Gold Coast.

Lowndes and Jamie Whincup won on Saturday, before teammates Shane van Gisbergen and Garth Tander took out the Sunday race.

The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 will be held 28-30 October and broadcast live on Fox Sports and the Seven Network.

Tickets are now available through Supercars.com and Ticketek.