Island Classic hailed as ‘best ever’
The “best ever” Island Classic was held last weekend with stunning classic cars, big crowds and blue skies at Phillip Island.
Organisers from the Victorian Historic Racing Register had high expectations with huge fields and their hopes were blown away.
With a field of former Formula 1 cars, five-time Bathurst 1000 winner Steven Richards racing his father’s 1990 ATCC winner, ex Ferrari star Eddie Irvine in attendance and countless classic cars, there was something for every motorsport fan at the event and the fans responded.
VHRR president Ian Tate said the 2023 Island Classic set a new benchmark for the long-running event.
“It was the best classic we have ever had,” Tate told AUTO ACTION.
“We had a record crowd Friday and Saturday and it went exceptionally well.
“The crowd between the road and the back of the pits was packed, I had never seen a crowd like it.”
One of the big highlights was the thundering spectacle produced by the wide range of former Formula 1 cars from the 1970’s and 1980’s.
Formula 5000 competitor Timothy Berryman goes wheel to wheel with Martin O’Connell in a Shadow DN8. Image: Neil Hammond
Across the weekend they raced against Formula 5000 cars before holding its own Phillip Island Historic Grand Prix.
The eight-lap showpiece race was won by Ireland’s James Hagan, who drove his former James Hunt Hesketh 308/1 to victory.
Hagan finished two seconds in front of Martin O’Connell’s Shadow DN8, which also made an impression against the Formula 5000’s.
Tate said the sight of the Formula 1 cars flying around the sweeping Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit will be remembered by those in attendance for a long time.
James Hagan won the Phillip Island Historic Grand Prix in the Hesketh 308/1. Image: Neil Hammond
“The crowd response to the Formula 1 cars was amazing and the sound of them was just incredible,” he said.
“The overseas drivers said it was the third most impressive track they have raced on and they run all over famous European tracks every weekend.
“The winner Martin O’Connell creamed the Formula 5000’s on Sunday and actually passed two of them down the inside under brakes at Miller Corner and drove away.
“He also did an incredible time of a 1:27.7 which is nearly as fast as any Formula 5000 cars have ever gone down there and we were all surprised.
“The Formula 1 cars put on the show we hoped for and the times were incredible.”
Another highlight was produced by the Group C and A class, where former Bathurst 1000 winners Greg Murphy and Richards went head to head in a pair of Nissan Skylines.
A trio of Nissans in the distinctive Gibson Motorsport warpaint lead the Group A and C field into Miller corner. Image: Neil Hammond
Richards won the first battle taking pole by more than a second, but the races were far more competitive.
Murphy won the opener, closely followed by Chris Stillwell in a Caltex Ford Sierra RS500, Richards and Edward Sansil in a Diet Coke BMW E30 all within a second.
The second race went to Paul Stubber in the ex Allan Moffat Mazda RX7 with Murphy close for company.
It was Sansil’s turn on the top step of the podium in race 3 where he enjoyed the biggest margin of the weekend of two seconds.
Richards put Jim’s Nissan into P1 in an ultra-competitive final race where the top three were covered by just half a second.
Tate said the margins of victory reflected the quality of racing produced by the 1980’s and 1990’s touring cars.
“The C and A was absolutely stunning because we had Steven Richards, Greg Murphy, Chris Stillwell and Edward Sansil put on an unbelievable show with four cars side by side passing each other,” he said.
“They livened the crowd up lap after lap each race. Just stunning.”
Paul Stubber drives a damaged Allan Moffat Mazda RX7 while Greg Murphy and Steven Richards battle side by side in the background. Image: Neil Hammond
Tate said there were also a number of youngsters taking on the famous 4.445km circuit.
“We had 12 juniors running and four of them had their VHRR first meeting,” he said.
“Thomas Vondrasek won the Don Kinsey encouragement award. He did a good job and actually drove Murray Carter’s old XC Falcon, which his dad owns.
“It was fantastic to see him do so well.”
Four-time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Irvine was a star guest at the event and enjoyed it so much he proclaimed ‘I might come back next year!’.
With motorsport enthusiasts of all ages and abilities leaving with a smile, the 2023 Island Classic will be remembered fondly for a long time to come.
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