Dunlop Super2 Series to celebrate 150th round in Townsville

The feeder series for the Repco Supercars Championship, the Dunlop Super2 Series, will in Townsville celebrate a milestone 150th round.

The series debuted as the Konica V8 Lites Series in 2000, and featured Ford AU Falcons and Holden VT Commodores on the grid.

In 2023, now run as the Dunlop Super2 Series, drivers share the grid with fellow up and coming stars from the Dunlop Super3 Series.

In its inaugural year, it was a 20-year-old Dean Canto who claimed the first ever round victory at Eastern Creek Raceway.

Canto went on to win the maiden Series crown and backed that up with a second Series title in 2005.

Ryan McLeod claimed the first ever pole position for the Series at the same event, while Wayne Wakefield claimed the first ever race win.

In its first 23 years, there have been 20 different feeder series winners; three of those have won the title twice: Canto, Steve Owen and Paul Dumbrell.

Seven former DS2 champions are currently racing in the Repco Supercars Championship: Mark Winterbottom, Cam Waters, Todd Hazelwood, Bryce Fullwood, Thomas Randle, Broc Feeney and Declan Fraser.

Two former DS2 champions (Winterbottom and Scott McLaughlin) went on to win the Supercars drivers' championship later in their careers.

Four drivers (Winterbottom, McLaughlin, Paul Dumbrell and Jonathon Webb) have won both the Super2 Series title and the Bathurst 1000.

Nine drivers with at least one win in the Dunlop Super2 Series have gone on to win the Bathurst 1000: Winterbottom, Dumbrell, Webb, Winterbottom, Chaz Mostert, Paul Morris, Luke Youlden, Lee Holdsworth and Nick Percat.

Of the current 25 championship drivers, 23 gained valuable experience in the Dunlop Super2 Series before joining the Supercars Championship.

Of the current 25 championship drivers, 18 of them are also DS2 race winners.

To celebrate the history and success of the series and its 150th round milestone, current Dunlop Series drivers and former champions will gather for a special photo opportunity on the eve of the NTI Townsville 500.

Hazelwood: 2017 champion

Supercar CEO Shane Howard said: "The Dunlop Super2 Series has consistently provided a highly competitive platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills and progress to the pinnacle of Australian motorsport.

"It's not just the drivers either; this series has played a pivotal role in helping engineers, mechanics and even some team owners progress to the Supercars Championship.

“The Dunlop Super2 Series has for almost a quarter of a century held a special place in the Supercars ecosystem. The 150th milestone round is a testament to the series' continued success and importance."

"Celebrating 150 rounds is a remarkable achievement for this prestigious feeder series."

Winterbottom, driver of the #18 DEWALT Racing Team 18 Chevrolet Camaro, won the 2003 feeder series crown and has since made over 600 race appearances in the Supercars Championship.

"As a former champion of the Dunlop Super2 Series, I am incredibly proud to witness its 150th round coming up at the Townsville 500," Winterbottom said.

"It's a testament to the series' legacy and its role in shaping the future stars of Australian motorsport.

Feeney: 2021 champion

"Super2, or the Development Series as it was back then, holds a special place in my heart, as it gave me the platform to showcase my skills and make a name for myself in the Supercars paddock.

“All the teams in the main game kept a close eye on Super2 and it continues to be the case to this day when it comes to recruitment from drivers through to staff.

“I have fond memories from my championship year with Stone Brothers. It wasn’t just about the drivers, but it gave the platform for new crew, engineers and support staff to work their way up and provide exposure to teams, sponsors and fans of the main game."

Now racing Ford Mustangs and Holden ZB Commodores, the series will be entering its third round of 2023 in Townsville.

Currently leading is Tickford’s Zak Best – who as a wildcard entry on debut at the 2022 OTR SuperSprint grabbed a stunning pole position in the Supercars Championship last year.

Best has finished runner-up in the last two Dunlop Super2 Series’ behind eventual winners Broc Feeney and Declan Fraser.

Tickets for the NTI Townsville 500, to be held on July 7-9, are on sale now.