THE annual Phillip Island Classic Festival of Motorsport, Australia’s favourite historic meeting for racers and spectators alike, is getting closer.
It’s on next weekend, 8 to 10 March, with over 400 racing cars across 11 categories entered. On top of that, over 1000 stunning club cars will be on display outside the circuit, in addition to a merchandise hall, food stands and trucks.
A walk through the Island’s huge paddock provides plenty of opportunities to look at the cars and speak to the drivers while soaking up the sights, surrounds and smells of yesteryear.
Twenty 500bhp V8 fuel-injected Formula 5000s always stir the soul, blow the wax outta the ears and move the earth beneath your feet. These crowd-pleasers will run with groups Q and R racing cars and have their own Trans-Tasman Trophy on Sunday.
Many of the competing cars are Kiwi visitors, and with multiple spectator viewing points around the circuit you won’t miss a second of the action. There’s nothing quite like the thunder of these machines attacking the Island’s fast, open corners!
The F5000 field in the pits at Phillip Island. Photo: VHRR
Ever popular Bathurst winner Steven Richards will drive father Jim’s Nissan Skyline HR31 in the Group C and A category alongside another works
Nissan HR31, while Greg Murphy returns aboard a Honda Accord two-litre Supertourer from New Zealand!
Touring Car fans will love the celebration of 50 years of the mighty L34 Torana with static displays and on-track events. Early-birds should put 4pm Friday in their diaries: the Cowes Car Show on the main drag on Friday evening includes L34s.
See historic Group A and C touring car machines of the 1970s to 1990s, historic F1, Le Mans sports-prototypes, Formula Ford and Formula Holden; there is something for everyone in this intoxicating mix of racing cars!
The event is hosted by the Victorian Historic Racing Register, and tickets are available at the gate. Don’t forget that patrons under 17 enter free if accompanied by an adult. Gates open Friday 8 March, 8am. Be there!
There is also lots more loaded into a bumper edition of AUTO ACTION magazine, on sale at newsagents and available digitally here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
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