CALDER LOOKING TO BRING BACK RALLYCROSS
After national level racing made a celebrated return to Calder Park Raceway with the recent running of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series, but another old favourite could make a comeback.
Throughout the sixties and seventies rallycross was a massive part of Calder Park’s charm.
Big crowds watched the likes of nine-time Bathurst winner Peter Brock and 1970 Australian Rally Champion Bob Watson going head-to-head, flying over jumps and water splashes in a supercharged Torana XU1 and Renault R8 Gordon respectively.
With Calder Park ending its 15-year state and national level droughts in 2023, general manager Rowan Harman revealed to AUTO ACTION a rallycross revival could also be on the cards.
“Things are ticking along nicely, and we are also looking at bringing back Rallycross. We are trying to see how we look at tackling it.
“We are hoping to make it very similar to the old rallycross that was big here in the 1960s and 1970s.”
Jarrod Hughes keeping Jackson Rice and co at bay at the front of his TA2 debut at Calder. Image: Supplied
In terms of the track itself which proved extremely slippery in wet conditions during the TA2 round, the work has not stopped.
The tyre barrier conveyor belt work at the bottom end of the track (turns 1-5) is now complete with work beginning at turn 6, while the recovery from the recent copper theft is nearing completion with lighting expected to be up and running again in January.
Harman said finding the time to complete jobs is a good problem to have due to the heavily increased traffic at the venue, which is “nudging 80 percent occupancy.”
Main Image: Auto Action Archives
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