Event Updates

V8 Supercar Sponsorship Update

Over the last 4 years XXXX GOLD has been a proud sponsor of the V8 Supercars at great locations across Australia like Bathurst, Homebush and the Gold Coast.

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our involvement during this time as much as we’ve enjoyed interacting with V8 fans all over the country.

Perhaps you spent time soaking up the atmosphere at the XXXX GOLD Retreat? Or got the inside track on the competition from our Ambassador Drivers with their ‘In the Drivers Seat’ updates? And we’re pretty sure you’ll remember seeing the performances of the XXXX Angels as they brought their own, unique touch of the good life to the race days.

But unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.

We regularly review all of our sponsorship arrangements and we have decided not to renew our V8 sponsorship this year.

The V8 Supercars will continue to be a spectacular competition and we wish them and all of the fans the very best for the future.

This website will close down on Jan 31st 2012, but the XXXX GOLD Retreat and XXXX Angels will continue to tour - check out the website for more details.

XXXX GOLD has some exciting plans coming in 2012 so watch this space!

Whincup’s title secured in dramatic style

XXXX Gold’s own Jamie Whincup is now a three-time V8 Supercar champion, after securing the 2011 title at a dramatic Sydney Telstra 500.

Whincup did enough with an eighth place in the final race of the season, although there were some nervy times as a drying track and the threat of rain kept teams guessing, with Whincup buried in the pack and vulnerable for most of the day. With Craig Lowndes fighting his way through to the front, it looked as though we could have been in for a shock.

The previous day Whincup had slammed into the wall, opening up the championship heading into the final day of the season. But he ended with a 35-point gap ahead of his teammate to seal the crown.

The Homebush track lived up to its reputation as one of the most challenging on the calendar with a series of accidents, as drivers got caught out by the concrete walls and kerbs that line the track.

The fans lapped up the action, all 172,000 of them who made it through the gates over the three days. Filling merchandise alley, pavilions and surrounding areas, the fans had more than just crashing V8 Supercars to keep them entertained.

John Farnham and Hunters & Collectors led the way at the Saturday night concert - Hunters & Collectors’ rendition of Holy Grail a popular theme for the weekend given what was at stake in the title battle.

Even the heavy rain that lashed the circuit before Sunday’s race couldn’t keep the crowd away. The XXXX Gold Retreat overlooking the turns two, three and four chicane saw plenty of action, with a number of drivers bouncing off kerbs and slamming into the wall.

It’s only three seasons old, but the Sydney Telstra 500 has only enhanced its reputation as a car-destroying, fan-friendly spectacular event after the 2011 rendition. It was a fitting way to end a great season of V8 Supercars.

Enjoy your summer break and see you next season.

Sydney set for showdown

It’s only been on the calendar for three years but already the Sydney Telstra 500 set on the streets of Homebush has made a big impression on V8 Supercars, setting a new standard for season finale events.

It’s not only the challenging street circuit around the former Olympic precinct that makes it such an exciting weekend, but also how the surrounding facilities are utilised to put on an event that is more than just race.

Leading the off-track entertainment are the concerts held in ANZ Stadium on the Friday and Saturday night of the event. Bliss N Eso, Jebediah, The Herd and Calling All Cars led Friday night’s bill, providing a mix of hip-hop and rock. Saturday night sees Hunters & Collectors playing for a one-off performance for the first time in 13 years, alongside John Farnham, Noiseworks and James Reyne.

During the day there’s plenty to see and do as well as the racing – everything from car shows, freestyle motorcycling and more in the various pavilions within the precinct.

Speaking of pavilions, make sure you check out the V8 Supercars drivers, cars and teams in the indoor exhibition paddock, their base for the weekend, which allows fans a unique and close-up look of the teams going about their business.

And, of course, don’t forget to visit the XXXX GOLD Retreat at the northern end of the Olympic Boulevard.

On track there’s the final event of the Fujitsu V8 Supercars along with Aussie Racing Cars, Touring Car Masters, Carrera Cup and the always-popular V8 Utes.

Last season Homebush hosted arguably the most dramatic title decider in the history of Australian touring cars when Mark Winterbottom, Jamie Whincup and James Courtney, all three championship contenders running first, second and third on the road, followed each other into the wall as they were caught out on slicks on a wet track.

It’ll be hard to live up to that drama this year, though the championship remains unresolved; with Jamie Whincup needing to finish fourth or better on Saturday or 16th or better in both races should title rival and teammate Craig Lowndes win both races.

If you’re in Sydney or surrounding areas, get yourself to Homebush. It’s one of the marquee events on the V8 Supercars calendar for good reason.

Whincup smiling in Sandown sunshine

If Melbourne’s weather was a V8 Supercar driver, it would be an inconsistent competitor that would run away with the race one day and dwell at the back of the pack the next. So it was that Sandown produced two completely different sets of conditions for the racing at the Norton 360 Sandown Challenge – torrential rain one day, beautiful sunshine the next.

Saturday’s race was one of those classic wet weather races. Visibility was almost non-existent as drivers skidded around the pools of water. Some, such as our own Greg Murphy, could do little to avoid an accident in the treacherous conditions. But others, like Murphy’s teammate Rick Kelly, excelled – running away with the race to claim his third win of the season.

Jamie Whincup made amends for a disappointing wet race, in which he finished 13th, with a comfortable win in the sunshine of Sunday. Whincup heads into the Sydney Telstra finale with a comfortable 188-point lead over Craig Lowndes. Barring a total disaster on the streets of Homebush, our mate Whincup should be reclaiming the #1 plate in a fortnight’s time. And with 10 wins this season, many being dominant displays where he was never headed, who can possibly begrudge him the crown?

As Whincup was edging closer to the title, the fans that either braved Saturday’s wintery conditions or stayed away as a result made amends on Sunday, coming out to Sandown Park in big numbers to not only see Whincup and co in today’s V8 monsters, but also appreciate the beasts of yesteryear.

Group A and Group C monsters from the seventies, eighties and nineties were a popular addition to the weekend’s heritage focus, with the likes of Nissan GT-Rs, Jaguar XJSs, Ford Sierra, Skylines, Toranas, Falcons and Commodores entertaining the crowd on and off the track.

It was a farewell to Sandown’s sprint event, with the track getting the 500km endurance event back from 2012. And the big crowd, heritage feel and variable weather proved why it is the perfect location for an enduro – throwing up a bit of everything over the course of a weekend.

Sandown the place to be in Victoria this weekend

They call Sandown “the race on Melbourne’s doorstep” – far enough, too, sitting just half-hour’s drive southeast of the CBD, easily accessible by train as well as car. And it’s not hard to see why Sandown is so popular with Victorians and the big number of fans who travel from interstate to attend the event.

You see, Sandown has what many race-tracks wish they had – that great combination of heritage along with great facilities to cater for the fans. That heritage is connected with its days as host of the 500km Bathurst precursor enduro event. And fans will undoubtedly join me in saying that it’s great to see Sandown regain its enduro event from 2012. About time!

Fans congregate in big numbers in Sandown’s main grandstand along the front straight, which is usually used to spectate horsepower of a different kind. Amazingly, the facility hosted the Sandown Cup just a matter of days before the V8s turn up!

It’s always great to sit in that stand and watch the start of the race, as parochial Ford and Holden fans wait to see whether one of their cars will be leading the way as they track the around the track. After all, watch intently and you can follow your favourite driver around for most of the lap, such is the great view from the main stand.

Jamie Whincup will be looking to cement his title lead, which currently stands at 194 points, heading into the season finale on the streets of Homebush. Pressure is on teammate Craig Lowndes to fight back for it’s now or never.

Alongside the main event will be the Fujitsu Series, also in their penultimate round, V8 Utes and GTs. And in keeping with the heritage theme of this event, the Touring Car Masters will be racing and heritage vehicles touring arounf the track over the weekend.

Nostalgia meets entertainment at Sandown.

Whincup unstoppable in Tassie

XXXX Gold’s own Jamie Whincup took another step closer to the V8 Supercars title at Symmons Plains in Tasmania, winning both races to increase his points lead to 194 points with two events (four races) remaining.

It was a near faultless display from Whincup, who won on Saturday from pole and fought back from third on the grid on Sunday to sail into a lead he would never let go of. It was the drive(s) of a champion, and if the Armor All Gold Coast 600 was the turning point in the title battle, then Symmons Plains could be where Whincup cemented it.

All his competitors could do behind was fight over the minor placings – title rival Craig Lowndes in second on Saturday and fifth on Sunday, after having to fight back from 15th on the grid, while the factory Ford boys, including our own Mark Winterbottom, were the next best over the weekend with a double-podium on Sunday. But it was Whincup who hogged the spoils for himself – cheeky boy!

A big crowd was in attendance over the weekend – a notable increase on recent seasons. Having faced the prospect of losing the event beyond this season’s race, the locals sure were keen to prove that they deserve to be on the calendar for the long-term future of the sport.

Many of those fans paid the extra dollars for their chance to meet their heroes in the paddock, which was brimming with fans between sessions, all eager to catch a photo, autograph or handshake with their favourite driver. They certainly are an enthusiastic and knowledgeable fan base in Tassie.

The crowd seemed to lap up every minute of the action, blessed with surprisingly sunny weather as the threat of rain never materialised, and great support categories, particularly the Aussie Racing Cars, Formula Ford and Australian Superbikes, who entertained with close, exciting races that went down to the wire.

There’s little time to rest and recuperate for V8 Supercar drivers and teams, quickly packing before the trip across Bass Strait to Victoria for Sandown next weekend. Can anyone stop Whincup on his march to the title? Mmm…

Tasty treats awaits at the Apple Isle

Tasmanians biggest sporting event, the Falken Tasmania Challenge at Symmons Plains, faced the chopping block earlier this year, as V8 Supercars and the Tasmanian state government squabbled over finances and other matters. Thankfully that’s all resolved, so this visit to Tassie won’t be a sad farewell but a celebration of a great little race-track in one of Australia’s nicest corners and a mighty championship fight.

After Jamie Whincup’s Bathurst disaster, when he lost the points’ lead to Craig Lowndes following mechanical failure, it was Lowndes’ turn to suffer the misfortune of electronic gremlins and other bad luck at the Armor All Gold Coast 600. The points lead has swung between them like a pendulum, currently sitting in Whincup’s favour by 143 points.

So, three events to go – Symmons Plains, Sandown and Homebush – and the title fight is between the two teammates; a proper head-to-head between two great drivers in the benchmark team in V8 Supercars. Throw into the mix the form of Bathurst winner Garth Tander, Gold Coast winner Mark Winterbottom and Shane van Gisbergen, third in points, and there are some spoilers to Whincup and Lowndes’ battle for maximum points.

Symmons Plains, which lies 30 minutes south of Launceston, is a tight, twisty and technical track where anything can happen. Traffic is always and issue on 2.4 kilometre track, particularly in qualifying as drivers struggle to find some clean air for their quick lap. In the race passing is difficult, so look for plenty of action at the XXXX GOLD hairpin at turn four – the best overtaking opportunity on the track.

For fans, it’s a great track to spectate at, particularly overlooking turn two as the cars begin their run down to the hairpin. But don’t forget your umbrella. As last season proved, weather can be fickle in that part of the world, although it does make for great racing!

The Australian Superbike championship will also be in attendance, along with Formula Ford, Formula 3 and the Aussie Racing Cars – two wheels, open wheelers and tin-tops all on the one weekend.

So, Whincup versus Lowndes. Who will be leading the championship race leaving Tassie? After the last couple of events, who knows?

Whincup and Winterbottom share GC spoils

Mark Winterbottom and co-driver Richard Lyons may have claimed the Armor All Gold Coast 600 with Ford Performance Racing’s first win of the season on Sunday, but Jamie Whincup had the best reason to party on a weekend that could prove decisive in the title race.

Carrying a 100-point deficit to teammate Craig Lowndes following Bathurst, XXXX GOLD’s own Whincup left Surfers Paradise with a 143-point lead following a win and a second place over the weekend, as Lowndes was left ruing mechanical dramas and other dilemmas that cost the former champ dearly.

The international co-drivers were in the main well behaved, apart from the odd indiscretion and love tap; Whincup’s co-driver Sebastien Bourdais won the inaugural Dan Wheldon Memorial trophy, on a weekend when the V8 Supercars community paid tribute to the late IndyCar star; while kerb hopping became a controversial accepted practice in Sunday’s race.

But it didn’t seem to matter much to the big crowd in attendance – total of 181,186 over the three days, up 11,000 on 2010.

The party the Gold Coast has to have didn’t disappoint, with big crowds staying to see the likes of Bliss N Eso, Hoodoo Gurus and Simple Minds perform on Friday and Saturday night. And judging by the amount of people pouring into the gates just for the concerts, they are proving very important for the event in attracting a much wider audience.

But it wasn’t too hard to find a party somewhere in Surfers Paradise over the weekend. As usual bars, clubs, restaurants and more got into the spirit of the race. While the locals came out in force for one of their marquee events of the year, there were plenty of out of towners soaking in the sun and frivolity of the weekend.

An example of such were the two lads from Newcastle yours truly shared a taxi with heading into Surfers Paradise: casual V8 fans who had heard the stories of the party Surfers throws each year, set with accommodation next to the track, looking forward to nothing more than mornings at the beach, afternoons at the track and nights at a pub – to be repeated for three consecutive nights.

Not a bad way to spend a weekend!

V8 Supercars now pauses for three weeks before visiting Symmons Plains in Tasmania, followed by Sandown and the finale Sydney.

Six races to go. Will Surfers Paradise prove to be the decisive event in the title race?

Party time on the Gold Coast

Bathurst has been run and won – and what a race it was! Now V8 Supercars launches into the run home, starting with the popular race around the streets of Surfers Paradise, the Armor All Gold Coast 600.

The open wheelers may be gone, leaving the V8 Supercars to headline the event for third year running, but Surfers Paradise still throws one hell of a party.

It may not be to the same size and scale of the Indy days, but the high-rise buildings, pubs, clubs and more that surround the Surfers track still come alive throughout the weekend, making it one of the most unique events on the calendar.

It’s one of those events you need to see to believe – and make the pilgrimage at least once, soaking in all Surfers has to offer while enjoying the V8 Supercars trying to avoid the concrete lined walls on one of the most challenging street circuits around.

Adding to the uniqueness of the event is the addition of an international driver per car; throwing stars from other motorsport categories into the lion’s den over the course of the two 300km races.

International drivers heading down under for the event include current Formula One driver Vitantonio Liuzzi (with Tony D’Alberto), reigning Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon (James Courtney), Aussie IndyCar stars Will Power (Mark Winterbottom) and Ryan Briscoe (Garth Tander), while title contenders, Triple Eight’s Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, will team with multiple touring car world champion Andy Priaulx and former F1 driver Sebastien Bourdais respectively.

Off track these plenty to see and do in around Surfers Paradise. The beauty of this event is that the party truly gets going when the cars are parked for the night and the sun goes down.

Kicking the party into life Friday night will be the 600 Sounds dance and hip-hop music acts, headlined by Bliss N Eso and supported by the Potbelleez, Drapht, Bag Raiders, Tonite Only and Illy. Saturday night’s line-up is headlined by Simple Minds with Hoodoo Gurus, Eskimo Joe and Masters Apprentices in support.

As always, there’s plenty to see and do at Surfers.

Tander and Percat claim epic Bathurst win

Garth Tander held off a last gasp challenge from Craig Lowndes to claim his third Bathurst 1000 victory, in what many are describing as one of the best Bathurst finishes ever.

Lowndes appeared set to gobble up Tander in the closing few laps; rapidly closing in and seemingly certain to pass as Tander struggled for grip. But Tander held on for his third Bathurst crown and co-driver Nick Percat’s first in his first main game start at Mount Panorama.

The crowd lapped up the thrilling conclusion, left on the edge of their seats as the drama unfolded in the closest finish between two competing cars (non teammates) in the race’s history.

Thankfully for the crowd the weather that had put a dampener on the weekend – particularly Thursday and Saturday when the Shootout was interrupted with a late shower – held off on Sunday.

Fans put on a brave face as they coped with the muddy and wet conditions – particularly those camping in the wet weather; true V8 Supercars fans.

And they were treated to another classic Bathurst. Not only was there the amazing battle for the lead but some great racing and dicing throughout the pack in the final stint of the race, as late safety cars – particularly the one scrambled following David Besnard’s lucky escape; surviving a frightening fireball crash at Griffins Bend – brought the pack together for the run to the line.

It may have lacked a Ford battling for the win and podium places in those concluding stages to set up a real Bathurst ‘Red versus Blue’ battle, but even Ford fans would have been on the edge of their seats as Tander and Lowndes went toe-to-toe in those final laps.

As we said in the preview for the great race, Bathurst tends to deliver drama and excitement like no other event on the calendar. It’s why the fans are prepared to camp in such poor conditions for their chance to be part of it, and people who ordinarily won’t watch V8 Supercars will watch the Bathurst 1000. And the 2011 rendition certainly didn’t disappoint.

Bring on 2012!