The Newcastle Supercars track’s waterfront sections may get tourism officials revved up, but 2015 series champion Mark Winterbottom can’t wait to race through the inner-city’s buildings.
Create a free account to read this article
or signup to continue reading
Supercars organisers and Premier Mike Baird confirmed on Tuesday that the Newcastle 500, comprising two 250km races, would replace the Sydney 500 for five years from November 2017.
Winterbottom told the Herald that the anti-clockwise route through the historic East End, harbour and Nobbys beach was packed with “character” and in parts reminded him of the famous Monte Carlo circuit.
“It’s quite unique. It’s different to everywhere we go,” the Ford driver said. “You’re going up through buildings, lots of elevation.
“Townsville’s in the city, but you’re not going through the city as such. Here, to go up through the buildings, the echo’s going to be huge. The noise is loud anyway, but the echo through the streets is going to be massive.”
Winterbottom and fellow drivers Chaz Mostert and James Courtney were in Newcastle for the announcement and scoped the track on Tuesday morning.
“This is a true street race as you go through town. It’s such a cool spot,” Winterbottom said. “The landscape’s really cool as well, so they’ve got a really good track to work with. Having tall buildings makes it feel narrower . . . it will feel like you’re going up through tunnels.
“The elevation and undulation will make it feel quick as well, and that back section along down the beach-top part is going to be fast downhill. So much character.”
The 35-year-old said aerial footage of the cars racing through the inner-city would be unlike anything the sport had seen in Australia.
“The spectacle through the buildings is going to be amazing. That downhill part feels like Monaco, but in reverse. You come down, not up. It feels Monacoesque.
“Anywhere you can go through and people can be sitting enjoying cafes and pubs and whatnot while they’ve got 26 engines running past them is pretty cool.”
The season-ending Sydney 500 at Homebush is a tight street circuit where crashes can decide the championship. Winterbottom expects a Newcastle final round to be just as unpredictable.
“You want an epic battle at the end, and that’s why Homebush has been so good,” he said. “You can have zero points there. It’s quite easy to DNF both races.
“You want the championship to come down to the wire, and this event will do that as well. Sydney’s been great and has served its purpose, but I feel like we’re going another step again.”
He expected the cars to reach 250km/h along the Wharf Road main straight.
“It should be sixth gear. We should get all the way through the gear box, sixth to first, which is physical on the driver but good for spectating.
“They’ll have to do the simulation work, but 250 to 270 would be the margin, which, when a conrete wall’s coming at you, feels like about 400. It’ll be quick.”
Winterbottom said the track had three passing opportunities “and then spots that guys try to turn into passing spots that may not be anyway”.