2023-03-10 08:00:00
It will be the first ever session of the new era for racing between the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang – the Gen3 Supercars that have been in development over recent years and are now ready for racing.
A huge crowd is expected this weekend for the first event in Newcastle since 2019. With new cars comes the notion that it could be the tightest year of competition in recent times.
That said the driver to catch remains Red Bull's Shane van Gisbergen who enters 2023 searching for his third consecutive Driver's Title following his record breaking 2022.
The new #97 Red Bull Camaro will be one of 14 Chevrolet's on the grid this year, battling 11 Ford Mustangs.
There is three rookie drivers this year; Canberra's Cameron Hill (Camaro/Truck Assist Racing), highly-regarded 20-year-old kiwi Matthew Payne (Mustang/Penrite Racing) and reigning Dunlop Super2 Series Champion, Mackay's Declan Fraser (Mustang/Tradie Racing).
Rising stars Anton De Pasquale, Broc Feeney, Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert are expected to fight for wins all year and will be among the contenders when racing gets underway on Saturday.
Veterans Will Davison, James Courtney, Mark Winterbottom and David Reynolds will also be in the hunt while youngsters like Brodie Kostecki, Andre Heimgartner and Will Brown are expected to cause an upset or two throughout the year.
Today will feature three practice sessions for Supercars as well as various practice and qualifying sessions for support categories, including the new-look Dunlop Super2 and Super3 Series.
Every practuice, qualifying and race session of the Thrifty Newcastle 500 will be broadcast live on Foxtel and the Seven Network, with Kayo and 7plus streaming the event.
Tickets are available through Ticketek.
The tension is high at Mount Panorama as today’s qualifying session will decide who earns a coveted spot in tomorrow’s fan-favourite Boost Mobile Top Ten Shootout.
After winning last night, two-time Bathurst 1000 winner Chaz Mostert has completed a Panasonic Air Conditioning Sydney SuperNight sweep, hunting down Cam Waters and Will Brown for victory in Race 16.
It was a battle of the Ford Mustangs under lights, tha ended with two-time Bathurst winner Chaz Mostert the winner, after a spectacular battle in Supercars' only night race of 2024, the Panasonic Air Conditioni
Penrite Racing rising star Matt Payne has returned to winning ways, with the Kiwi victorious in a strategy-fuelled 250km race at the NTI Townsville 500.
Erebus Motorsport’s Jack Le Brocq has spoiled the Ford party at the NTI Townsville 500, with the Chevrolet Camaro driver snatching pole position by the closest margin in Townsville history.