We are headed to North Queensland for the NTI Townsville 500, one of the best events on the calendar!
The Indigenous liveries on the Mobil 1 NTI Racing Car 2 and the Mobil 1 Optus Racing Car 25 are continuing on this weekend.
There is going to be plenty of on-track action for the team with all three categories racing this weekend; Supercars, Super2 and Toyota GR Cup.
The Track
Reid Park is a half street, half purpose built, 2.86km track that sits just outside the Townsville CBD.
In typical street circuit fashion, it is a concrete jungle in parts… any mistake is punished by the concrete barriers that surround the track.
Format
A 500km event means there are two x 250km races with fuel stops!
It will be the first time since Taupo that the fuel rigs will be in use, with two compulsory stops during each race. It means strategy and fuel loads come back into play.
Cars hit the track on Friday with two 40-minute practice sessions.
Saturday morning kicks off with a qualifying session for Race 13 where the top 10 drivers battle it out in the top 10 shootout to set the grid for the 88-lap Race 13 at 2.40pm AEST.
Sunday follows a similar format with a qualifying session in the morning, a top 10 shootout and the lights will go out for Race 14 in 2.40pm AEST.
Weather
It’s looking pretty wet this weekend, make sure you bring your umbrella to the track!
Tyres
We will be running Dunlop Soft tyres for both 250km races this weekend, although if you look at the weather forecast the wet tyre will get a good run-in this weekend.
Townsville is notoriously hard on tyres, especially rears, degradation will be a big talking, so expect to see some cars fall off the proverbial cliff!
Pit Stops
With a 250km race comes two compulsory fuel stops throughout with a minimum fuel drop of 100L. How much fuel you take, and when, will be the big question, it all depends on strategy.
How to Watch
Channel 7, Fox Sports and Kayo have you covered this weekend and for the Kiwi fans, catch all the action on SKY SPORTS.
Ryan Wood
The NTI Townsville 500 is such a great event, it was awesome to get a taste last year, but I'm really proud to be representing Truck Assist this weekend, it's really cool.
Friday's going to be really important for me and the team, I'll need to get up to speed as quickly as possible with the Gen3 car around here, which will set our Saturday morning up.
250km races are back, the longer races are great because they bring strategy back into the mix, fuel races always provide an extra layer.
Chaz Mostert
I love Townsville, it’s like my second home up there, it’s always entertaining racing for the fans so I’m pretty excited to head up North.
It’s great to be back on a street circuit this weekend, this track rewards the risk takers but any slight mistake and you’re having a concrete sandwich for lunch.
Strategy is back at play again with the longer race format this weekend, I’m excited to see what magic potion the engineers will come up with.