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Super Top adds to entertainment extravaganza at Castrol Townsville 500

09 May 2014
Aussie divas headline music line-up with more on offer than ever before at the July 4-6 event.
3 mins by James Pavey
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The Castrol Townsville 500 has more on offer than ever before, with a stellar entertainment line-up and total refurbishment of the Reid Park precinct for 2014.

For the first time, the July 4-6 event includes the Super Top - the country's largest indoor canvas, accommodating 8000 people undercover - along with improved grandstands, up-style corporate suites, transport hub, and twilight racing on Saturday.

That evening post-race, the Super Top will transform into a concert venue, hosting big name Australian divas Jessica Mauboy and Vanessa Amorosi.

Both have won multiple awards and topped the charts throughout their careers to date - and the Castrol Townsville 500 will be the only Australian performance by the US-based Amorosi.

V8 Supercars CEO James Warburton said attracting artists such as Mauboy and Amorosi to Townsville was a great coup for the event, given their national and international acclaim.

"Jessica Mauboy has been Australia's leading female artist for several years and Vanessa Amorosi among the most acclaimed female artists in this country's music history," Warburton said.

"To have these amazing ladies perform on the same stage for the first time under this magnificent canvas will be simply stunning."

Mauboy said she was looking forward to performing trackside at North Queensland's premier sporting event.

"It's the first time I have performed at a V8 Supercars event and I am really looking forward to it. It's going to be a lot of fun," said Mauboy, who today (May 8) does Australia proud performing to 180 million people in Denmark as the first invited Australian representative at this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

"Performing under a massive tent is always great, it provides a great atmosphere and the crowd really enjoys it."

US-based Amorosi adds to the all-female line-up with her only Australian performance and said she was very much looking forward to the trip from LA to Townsville.

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"I'm really looking forward to performing back in Australia and we are headed to one of the most picturesque and tropical places, it's going to be a great little trip," the Shine singer said.

"It's always exciting coming back to perform in Australia and this performance will be a lot of fun with an all-Aussie and all-female line-up."

Minister for Tourism and Major Events Jann Stuckey said Queensland was thrilled to welcome two of Australia's most popular female performers to the Castrol Townsville 500.

"Jessica Mauboy and Vanessa Amorosi will be major drawcards for locals and visitors to one of our state's most exciting motorsports events," Stuckey said.

"The Castrol Townsville 500 is the first installment of a three-part V8 Supercars series for Queensland including the Gold Coast 600 and Ipswich 400.

"Major events like these form part of the Queensland Government's 20-year plan for tourism, Destination Success. Supporting these activities will boost repeat visitation to regional destinations, helping to meet our target of double overnight expenditure from $15 billion to $30 billion by 2020."

Tickets for the July 4-6 event are on sale now, including a new platinum grandstand, a new elevated general admission area on the main straight opposite the pit garages, the Super Top shaded area and improved traffic flow around the site. Kids 14 and under receive free general admission with a paying adult (one child per ticket).

A key element is a new drop-off zone at Brodie Street where buses and taxis can set down passengers at a new entry gate, allowing convenient and easy access to the event.

Merchandise Alley has been relocated to the western end of the circuit while support categories will be on show inside the circuit as an additional feature for the fans.

Fans will get brand new grandstands with fold-down stadium seating at key viewing points around the track. Corporate hospitality has also been improved, with premium hospitality including seating at the front of the trackside suites.

Other enhancements include a new grass spectator mound at turn 13 - a prime vantage point of the final turn and the main straight, which replaces the grandstand.

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