Photo: Chip Ganassi Racing

Franchitti: Gold Coast 600 has makings of greatest race

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Dario Franchitti says October’s Gold Coast 600 event, with international stars pairing up with regular V8 Supercar drivers, could be “the greatest touring car race the world has seen”.

Franchitti, who this weekend can clinch his third Indycar Series championship, if he defeats Australian star Will Power, will join the Jim Beam Racing team at Surfers Paradise in the championship leading Ford Falcon BF.

The amount of interest this event has generated internationally in a short amount of time has been amazing,” said Franchitti.

“When you look at the cars, the drivers, the fan base and the event I cannot think of another touring car race anywhere or at anytime that comes close to what this will be.

“The Gold Coast event is one of the most special in world motorsports and to have the chance to go back down there and race – in no less than a V8 Supercar – is going to be something pretty special. ”

“When I was first contacted about the idea, I thought it was fantastic and when the opportunity came up to join James (Courtney) at Dick Johnson Racing, it was the icing on the cake.”

This won’t be Franchitti’s first time at the circuit, though it will be his first time in a V8 Supercar. The Surfers Paradise round was a regular event in the Champcar World Series calendar, and Franchitti raced there between 1998 and 2002, winning the event in ’99.

“Do I wish that the Gold Coast race was still part of the IndyCar Series? Of course I do, but that is not possible for a lot of reasons,” said Franchitti.

“For me, this is the next best thing. I have always been a fan of V8 Supercars and I’ve been bugging a few friends in Australia for a drive at Bathurst for a few years, but dates have never fallen in my favour.

“To be back in Surfers Paradise in a V8 Supercar is going to be cool and there is not one international driver in the field that I have spoken with who is not serious about winning the event – and that goes double for me.

“To win at Surfers Paradise in both a Champcar and V8 Supercar would be something pretty special, but with the competition and the talent level in this year’s field, not to mention the challenge of getting up to speed in a V8 Supercar, it will be a difficult task for sure.”