Supercars - Townsville 500

The Townsville 500 brings high-performance v8supercars racing to Reid Park Street Circuit in Townsville, Queensland. This major motorsports event features three days of competitive racing action where drivers from Australia's premier touring car championship compete on a hybrid street circuit that combines public roads with purpose-built racing sections.

The Reid Park Street Circuit

The Townsville 500 takes place on a unique street circuit located near the Townsville CBD. Reid Park Street Circuit blends everyday roads with racing-specific sections to create a challenging track for v8supercars competitors. The circuit layout tests driver skill and car performance across varied surfaces and corner combinations. Townsville has hosted this event since 2009, making it one of three circuits to appear on every Supercars calendar since that year.

Race Format and Structure

The event runs across a three-day weekend from Friday through Sunday. Friday features two practice sessions followed by a 100km race. Saturday and Sunday each include a fifteen-minute qualifying session, followed by a Top Ten Shootout, and then a 200km race. This format provides fans with multiple opportunities to watch competitive racing throughout the weekend.

Racing Action

Teams will use soft compound tyres for the races. The qualifying sessions determine starting positions, with the top ten drivers competing in a shootout format for pole position. Historical data shows that ten of thirty-four races at Townsville have been won from pole position. The Safety Car has appeared in more than half of all races held at this circuit, adding strategic elements to each competition.

Teams and Drivers

The 2026 Townsville 500 features eleven teams competing in v8supercars. Triple Eight Race Engineering, Dick Johnson Racing, and Walkinshaw TWG Racing bring their entries to Townsville alongside Brad Jones Racing, Tickford Racing, Matt Stone Racing, PremiAir Racing, Erebus Motorsport, Blanchard Racing Team, Team 18, and Grove Racing.

Driver Lineup

Confirmed drivers for the v8supercars championship include Chaz Mostert, Broc Feeney, Will Brown, Matthew Payne, Cam Waters, Anton De Pasquale, David Reynolds, Jack Le Brocq, Declan Fraser, Jayden Ojeda, Cooper Murray, Jobe Stewart, James Golding, and Brodie Kostecki. The 2026 season welcomes rookies Rylan Gray, Zach Bates, Jayden Ojeda, Jackson Walls, and Jobe Stewart to the championship.

Cars and Technical Specifications

V8supercars use custom-built machines constructed on a control chassis with selected body panels matching their road car counterparts. Three manufacturers compete in the championship. Ford fields the Mustang with a 5.4L Coyote DOHC V8 engine. Chevrolet campaigns the Camaro powered by a 5.7L LTR pushrod V8. Toyota enters the GR Supra equipped with a 5.2L 2UR-GSE DOHC V8.

Performance and Safety

All cars compete under technical parity regulations to ensure fair competition between manufacturers. Safety features include centrally positioned fuel tanks to prevent damage during rear impacts. Drivers sit in a central position protected by reinforced roll cage structures. These specifications create close racing while maintaining high safety standards for competitors.

Event History

Townsville first hosted a Supercars event in 2009 after the federal and Queensland state governments provided funding support announced in late 2007. The event was previously known as the Townsville 400 based on its total race distance format. Jamie Whincup holds the record for most victories at Townsville with twelve wins throughout the event's history.

Notable Achievements

Three teams have dominated recent Townsville races. Triple Eight Race Engineering, Dick Johnson Racing, and Tickford Racing won twenty-two consecutive races at this circuit through 2022. The first wet race in event history occurred in 2019, demonstrating the challenging conditions that can affect competition at Townsville. Nine of eleven races through a recent period were won by the pole-sitter, showing the advantage of qualifying performance at this circuit.

What Makes Townsville Special

The Townsville 500 combines professional v8supercars racing with family activities and live entertainment. The event attracts large crowds to North Queensland each year. The street circuit format brings racing directly to the community, allowing spectators to watch high-performance touring cars compete on roads they use daily. The event's position during school holidays makes it accessible for families attending together.

Fans can expect competitive racing between multiple manufacturers and teams at the Townsville 500. The circuit's characteristics favor different racing strategies, and the Safety Car's frequent appearances add unpredictable elements to race outcomes. The three-race format provides sustained action across the weekend, giving drivers multiple opportunities to score championship points.