THE first meaningful session of the Supercars finals series will come one day earlier this year, in the form of a Friday afternoon qualifying derby around the streets of Surfers Paradise.
That is the major takeaway from the track schedule being released for next month’s Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.
It was in the corresponding session last year that the title race took a major turn, with Brodie Kostecki crashing out in dramatic circumstances amid desperate efforts to make the Top 10 Shootout.
Friday qualifying will be followed by a Saturday one-lap dash to finalise the grid for the opening finals race of the year, before another qualifying, Shootout and 250km race unfolds all on the Sunday.
The Repco Supercars Championship will be supported by Porsche Carrera Cup, V8 SuperUtes and Aussie Racing Cars at the October 23-25 event.
TRACK SCHEDULE: 2026 BOOST MOBILE GOLD COAST 500 (in AEST)
Friday, October 23
TimeCategorySession1035-1055V8 SuperUtesPractice1105-1130Carrera CupPractice 11145-1210SupercarsPractice 11245-1305Aussie Racing CarsPractice1315-1335V8 SuperUtesQualifying1350-1415SupercarsPractice 21445-1510Carrera CupPractice 21525-1545Aussie Racing CarsQualifying1605-1635SupercarsQualifying (Race 31)
Saturday, October 24
TimeCategorySession0850-0910V8 SuperUtesRace 10925-0945Aussie Racing CarsRace 11015-1045Carrera CupQualifying1100-1125V8 SuperUtesRace 21155-1215Aussie Racing CarsRace 21235-1310SupercarsTop 10 Shootout (Race 31)1325-1345V8 SuperUtesRace 31355-1420Carrera CupRace 11515-1720SupercarsRace 31 (85 laps)
Sunday, October 25
TimeCategorySession0905-0925Aussie Racing CarsRace 30935-1005Carrera CupRace 21040-1100V8 SuperUtesRace 41120-1152SupercarsQualifying (Race 32)1205-1240SupercarsTop 10 Shootout (Race 32)1255-1315Aussie Racing CarsRace 41325-1350Carrera CupRace 31445-1650SupercarsRace 32 (85 laps)