Supercars will roar into action on the streets of Surfers Paradise as the GC500 officially kicks off today.
More than 200,000 people are expected to turn out for the event over the next three days.
The first practice session for the GC500 gets underway at 11.35 am with a second session in the afternoon.
Qualifying, Top Ten Shootout and the first race will take place on Saturday before drivers do it all again on Sunday.
Gold Coast driver Brodie Kostecki leads the championship by 131 points over Shane van Gisbergen and can claim the title this weekend.
Thousands of people turned out in Surfers Paradise on Thursday night to get up close with their favourite drivers.
PHOTO: Supplied
Veteran Supercars driver Mark Winterbottom says everyone is looking forward to action getting underway.
“It’s an awesome event, it’s one that I really love and I think it’s one of the favourites on the calendar for most drivers,” Winterbottom said.
Tickford Racing driver Cam Waters
“It’s amazing to come up to the Gold Coast. Absolutely love the event and it’s great to get away from Melbourne,” Waters said.
“Looking forward to getting into the race car and getting after it. The whole place, the atmosphere, the weather, it’ll be good.”
Supercars driver Cam Waters | PHOTO: Supplied
It comes as organisers look at ways of expanding the event given its surging popularity.
While Supercars bosses have put previous plans for a race under lights on the backburner, they are looking at making the Gold Coast races longer, similar to when the event was known as the GC600.
That would see a return of co-drivers on the Gold Coast and make it part of the Enduro Cup.
