Ryan Briscoe has predicted carnage on the streets of Surfers Paradise in October this year for the inaugural Armor All Gold Coast 600.
The Team Penske IndyCar regular, who will drive for the Toll Holden Racing Team at the Surfers Paradise meeting, says that the mix of talented drivers with limited experience in V8 Supercars could spell damage on the harsh Gold Coast streets.
“It will be a lot of fun racing all the other international drivers that don’t race V8 Supercars for a living,” said Briscoe.
“There will be a lot of talent, but also a lot of inexperience in those cars. It’s a daunting track with fast sections and close walls so there could be a bit of carnage along the way.”
Briscoe has competed in the V8 Supercars Championship Series before, competing with the Holden Racing Team in the 2006 V8 endurance races. In fact, Briscoe qualified on provisional pole in his very first race at the Sandown 500!
Briscoe will head to the Gold Coast 600 with a slight advantage, having secured a ride in the Bathurst 1000 (October 7-10) with Walkinshaw Racing (which enters Toll HRT and Bundaberg Red Racing).
The former Sydneysider and reigning Gold Coast IndyCar race winner says it wil be great to come home and race V8s at the Surfers Paradise track.
“It is going to be a huge event as it always is and I can’t wait for it,” he said.
“It’s Australia’s premier category and there are plenty of great teams and professional drivers. There’s certainly a lot of talent and I certainly love coming back when I can and get behind the wheel of a V8 Supercar.
“I guess I am the defending international champion after winning the final IndyCar race in 2008, I would like to keep that record in tact. My parents are happy because they don’t have to pay for an international airfare!”