Ipswich Mayor in Hot Seat

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale jumped in the passenger seat of a V8 Supercar today for a hot lap with local Dunlop Series driver Ash Walsh. 

Walsh, who currently sits second in the Dunlop Series Championship, took the Mayor for a high speed lap around Queensland Raceway ahead of this weekend's Coates Hire Ipswich 360. 

The adrenalin fuelled opportunity had the Mayor fired up about the weekend's motorsport festivities. 

"Wow! That was an awesome experience. It was fast and my heart was thumping through my chest," said Cr Pisasale.

"It is great to have V8 Supercars back in town and great for the people of Ipswich to have the opportunity to get up close to their favourite drivers. 

"This is Ipswich's event and the Ipswich City Council are pleased to support the Coates Hire Ipswich 360.

"It was a great opportunity to have a ride in a V8 Supercar. Ash is a great driver and I know the people of Ipswich will be cheering for him this weekend."

Walsh is in fine form headed into his homecoming weekend, and said he was excited to race in front of the home crowd. 

"My family all still lives in Ipswich, so for me racing in front of the home crowd in Ipswich is just amazing," said Walsh. 

"I grew up 15 minutes down the road. It's a great opportunity to do what I love in front of people I know and family.  

"QR feels like home. It's somewhere I've spent nearly my entire life going to. I've done a lot of laps here and every time I jump in the car at QR it definitely feels like my circuit."

Walsh will be on track at the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 for round four of the Dunlop Series Championship. He will also be behind the wheel of the #17 Dick Johnson Racing Wilson Security-backed Falcon, as co-driver for Tim Blanchard, during the allocated co-driver time during Friday's practice sessions. 

The Coates Hire Ipswich 360 is supported by the Ipswich City Council and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural and regional events throughout the state.

Tickets for the Coates Hire Ipswich 360 are available through Ticketek. Kids 12 and under receive free general admission with a paying adult and new junior and family ticketing options are available for event-goers aged 13 - 17.