New-look Beach Chicane tyre bundles for GC500

Supercars has confirmed updates are to be made to the Beach Chicane at the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit in advance of the 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

In a message to teams and the Supercars Commission, Supercars Chief Motorsport Officer Tim Edwards advised that tyre bundles will be installed at Turns 8 and 9 of the Surfers Paradise Street Circuit for next weekend’s race on the streets of the Gold Coast, which opens the Supercars Finals series.

A change from previous iterations, bundles will be placed just over two metres from the lip of the kerb, significantly further from the track edge than tyre bundles in previous years.

An electronic kerb hop loop will be installed at Turn 10, with the option to add a third tyre bundle if deemed necessary.

The circuit update is aimed to ensure cars slow on approach through the corner, while allowing drivers to still aggressively attack the apex kerbs.

Supercars believes that the changes will both ensure the circuit complies with its track licence from Motorsport Australia, while also retaining the entertainment value of cars attacking the kerbs.

“The installation of tyre bundles at the Beach Chicane is a requirement in order for the circuit to meet its safety standards,” Edwards said.

“That said, we have worked closely with Motorsport Australia on a solution and believe we’ve struck a fair balance where there is minimal compromise of entertainment for fans watching at-track and on TV.

“The bundles will be placed a full car width from the edge of the kerb, meaning drivers will still be able to take plenty of kerb, which will look spectacular as always.”

On-track action of the 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 begins one week from today, October 23, with 250-kilometre races on Saturday and Sunday on the streets of the Gold Coast.

Tickets and premium experiences for Queensland’s largest annual sporting event are available via Supercars.com and Ticketek.