THE roar of Supercars racing will echo across Ipswich this weekend as the Queensland Raceway hosts the Century Batteries Ipswich Super440, marking the championship’s long-awaited return to “the Paperclip” circuit for the first time since 2019.
Fans can expect three days of high-octane action as the new Gen3 machines hit the track, delivering speed, drama and wheel-to-wheel battles that haven’t been seen at the venue in six years.
Toowoomba’s own 2024 Supercars champion Will Brown headlines the field, determined to put on a show for his home crowd as he chases down teammate Broc Feeney’s 220-point lead in the Sprint Cup standings.
“The support I get when I race at QR is unreal,” Brown said. “It’s a track I love, and having my mates and family here makes it even more special. I’ll be giving it everything.”
Queenslander Broc Pearson is also set to feed off the electric atmosphere as Superbikes join Supercars on the action-packed bill.
Meanwhile, reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Brodie Kostecki adds extra spice to the mix, chasing another win after his recent success with Dick Johnson Racing in Townsville.
While several drivers are yet to race a Supercar at Queensland Raceway, Kostecki is tipped to be among the weekend’s frontrunners.
Local commentator Zak Caban said the return of Supercars to QR had been a long time coming and would deliver a major boost for both fans and the local economy.
“The venue was left off the schedule for 2020 and almost got a lifeline during Covid, but that fell through due to border politics,” Mr Caban said. “Since Tony Quinn took over in 2022, there’s been significant investment to upgrade the track, bringing it up to national standards. It’s a far cry from how it looked in 2021.
“This event is massive for the region, not just for motorsport fans but for local businesses in accommodation and hospitality. And on track, it’s hard to see anyone stopping the Triple Eight duo of Feeney and Brown.”
The Ipswich Super440 wraps up the Repco Sprint Cup, with the series leader at the end of the weekend earning an automatic berth in the inaugural Supercars Finals Series on the Gold Coast in October.
On-track action begins on Friday, with two 120km sprints on Saturday before a 200km finale on Sunday.
Fans can also catch the Australian Superbike Championship, Dunlop Super2 Series, Porsche Carrera Cup Australia and Toyota GR Cup.
