The Saturday evening at Sydney Motorsport Park kicked off with a 13-minute pre-race ceremony on pit straight in which the drivers were introduced to the packed grandstand opposite, amid jets of fire, smoke, lighting, music and a pre-recorded voiceover.

Championship leader Scott McLaughlin, who performed an impromptu dance after his introduction, said the Eastern Creek razzmatazz is something that should be considered for other rounds.

“The driver intros were awesome,” he said. “I just think it's great we're bringing the sport closer to the fans and what they want.

“We're an entertainment business, it was fantastic to see out the back (of the pits), we couldn't move.

“Hopefully we can keep it up and do it at some other places.”

The warmest reception went to fan favourite Craig Lowndes, in what is his last season as a full time driver.

“We were briefed on what was going to happen, but you don't really know until it happens,” Lowndes said of the introductions.

“The biggest concern we had was we didn't have a lot of time from the announcement to get in the car and get going (being the last one introduced).

“But that all worked out alright from the time they cleared the grid, so that wasn't a big issue. It was nice, it was more of a spectacle, they put on a good show, including the fireworks at the end.

“It was great, the only thing it missed, and I've told the powers-that-be, was a big Ferris wheel like Spa or the Le Mans 24 Hour!”

Triple Eight team-mate Shane van Gisbergen was also impressed with the show, although disappointed that the post-race procedures prevented him from performing a burnout on the main straight in front of the fans.