Gold Coast, INDY - Facts, Figures and Track Description

The following is a detailed lap of the Surfers Paradise street circuit to be used as the venue for the Gillette V8 Supercar Challenge, which is the11th round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series on October 24-26.

Also find following thoughts, results and memorable moments relating to this venue from both Marcos Ambrose and Russell Ingall.

SURFERS PARADISE STREET CIRCUIT – A LAP WITH MARCOS AMBROSE – THE CURRENT V8 SUPECAR LAP RECORD HOLDER
As you cross the start-finish line at Indy you are really getting everything set-up for the run into the first chicane. This is a high-speed gradual right turn and you need to be committed.

You are hard on the brakes for the first chicane, which is fairly standard – you need to get in as quickly as possible and out as straight as possible.

You can clip the wall on the exit so you need to watch your mirrors and things.

This is even more so on the second chicane where the wall on the exit “juts” out a bit – you know you are too close when you clip the wall and turn your mirrors in.

If you do this, then you don’t really have a guide for the rest of the session or the race. When you hit the wall with the side of the car it’s then too late.

Out of the second chicane and you are then into the long run down to ANA corner.

The camber of the road makes braking difficult here and you are also pulling up on a slight bend. There is a major shift in car balance. Sometimes it can suck you in and you can carry too much speed and this is where the passing opportunities are created.

You stay in second gear for the short burst up to the turn on to the back straight.
The left hander is really tough with the lines on the road and sand from the beach really playing havoc with traction.
Getting on the gas early out of here can really help with a good lap.

It is then down the back straight and the fastest part of the circuit at about 265kph before going back to second or third gear for the quick left-right combination.

You are then into the fast and flowing part of the circuit which takes you into the controversial VB esses on the breach front.
Several guys got black flagged for jumping the curbs here in the V8s last year – and it is easy to understand why - It is not easy to be that precise in these cars, especially if you are following someone.

You get real close to the wall on the exit of the esses and blast your way down to the left hander at the most northern part of the circuit.

This leads into a series of left and right handers through the high-rises which you attack in second gear.
You can make good time through here if you are committed to attacking the car and the track.
You then have a run on to the Lexmark Hairpin, which is a pretty flat corner, but one which can be a nightmare if you have an ordinary-handling car.

If your car is not right, this corner just seems to go on forever.
Again, you need to get out of here solidly and get up to speed as quickly as possible down the front straight and over the start-finish line.

This really is a terrific street course which offers a little bit of everything – a mistake here and can cost you big time!
If you get it right you should be back around in about one minute and 51 seconds.

THOUGHTS ON SURFERS PARADISE STREET CIRCUIT…..

MARCOS AMBROSE – PIRTEK RACING
One of the world’s great motorsport events. Not only is it a terrifically demanding race track which produces great racing, it has a fantastic carnival atmosphere which fans can enjoy for a week or so. This is my home race of the year and I do not have a lot of spare time, but the beach is always great to cool off between sessions. I think making this a round of the series was a positive move and you will see it continue to go from strength to strength.


MOST MEMOR ABLE MOMENT
I was part of the Honda Young Guns program in 1999 and was fortunate enough to win it. There were 10 drivers under the age of 25 in identically-prepared Honda Integra Type-Rs. The program was a great initiative and gave me an Indy Lights test with Dorricott Racing. I had done my last F3 race at Silverstone in England the weekend before, so it was all a bit of a rush, especially with a test session in the Integra on the Wednesday before.


CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 10, 2003)
2003 Points standing: 1st (1699 points)
2003 Adjusted points after dropping worst round: 1st (1603)
Debut: 2001
Starts: 36
Poles: 13 – Sandown, Oran Park, Queensland Raceway, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003); Phillip Island, Oran Park, Winton, Qld 500, Sandown (2002); Eastern Creek, Qld 500, Bathurst (2001)
Race wins: 9 (Last win – Oran Park (Round 8, 2003)
Round wins: 7 – Oran Park, Hidden Valley, Barbagallo, Winton, Eastern Creek (2003), Sandown (2002); Hidden Valley (2001)


SURFERS PARADISE RECORD
2002 – Qualified 6th; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: DNF; Overall: 6th
NON CHAMPIONSHIP
2001 – Qualified 13th; Race 1: 18th; Race 2: 9th; Race 3: 8th;


THOUGHTS ON SURFERS PARADISE SREET CIRCUIT…..


RUSSELL INGALL – CALTEX HAVOLINE RACING
I guess this is now my home race. Again this goes on the list of my most successful circuits. How could you not love Indy? It is one of the best race tracks in one of the best settings, with some of the best scenery – and I am not just talking about the beach and buildings! This circuit is not for wimps. It usually sorts out the men from the boys. The best move was making it part of the championship, it just makes sure everyone puts in a total effort. This has produced some of the best racing you will see. A track you need to approach like Adelaide, in that you have to be very aggressive to produce the times. The more aggressive the faster you go. Too aggressive and you go home.


MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT
Almost having a shunt on the form-up lap when I noticed a very well-endowed spectator on the run up to turn to. I did not know where to go when she decided to prove she had no tan lines. It was very distracting indeed.


CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS (After Round 10, 2003)
2003 Points standing: 3rd (1511 points)
2003 Adjusted points after dropping worst round: 4th (1429)
Debut: 1996
Starts: 92
Poles: 1 Winton (2001)
Race wins: 21 (Last Win – Queensland Raceway, 2003)
Round wins: 9 – Queensland Raceway (2003), Winton (2001); Qld 500 (1999); Lakeside, Mallala, Hidden Valley (1998); Phillip Island, Winton (1997); Calder (1996)


SURFERS PARADISE – RECORD
2002 – Qualified 12th; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: DNS; Overall: 0
NON CHAMPIONSHIP
2001 – Qualified 11th; Race 1: 4th; Race 2: 3rd; Race 3: 3rd
2000 – Qualified 1st; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 2nd; Race 3: 1st
1999 – Qualified 5th; Race 1: 4th; Race 2: 5th; Race 3: 2nd
1998 – Qualified 6th; Race 1: DNF; Race 2: 8th
1997 – Qualified 2nd; Race 1: 2nd; Race 2: 1st
1996 – Qualified 11th; Race 1: 8th; Race 2: 3rd


TRACK FACTS – SURFERS PARADISE
Venue: Streets of Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland
2003 Race format: Qualifying (Friday); Top 10 Shootout and Race 1 (22 Laps-100km) (Saturday); Race 2 (22 laps-100km) (Sunday)
Circuit Length: 4.5km
Circuit Direction: Anti-Clockwise
Maximum Speed: 265 km/h (Back Straight)
Qualifying Record – Greg Murphy (VX Commodore) 1.50.7030 (2002)
Lap Record – Marcos Ambrose (AU Falcon) 1:51.6490 (2002)


V8 SUPERCARS (All times Eastern Standard)


Friday – October 10, 2003
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
9.am-9.35am – Practice
1.25pm-2pm - Practice
4.30pm-4.50pm – Qualifying (Lower 50%)
4.55pm-5.15pm – Qualifying (Upper 50%)


Saturday – October 11, 2003
11.45am-12.05am – Warm-up
12.15pm – 12.55pm – Top 10 Shootout
3.15pm – Race (22 Laps)


Sunday – October 12, 2003
9.20am-9.40am – Warm-up
11.55am - Race 2 (22 Laps)


TV TELECAST – NETWORK TEN
Saturday – 11am-5pm
Sunday – 11am-6pm